Anatoly Karpov: “If I had won that game and match, it is unlikely that Kasparov would have become the world champion. He would not have survived this.”
As you know, any game of that match, starting from the 27th, could have been the last. However, week after week went by, and Garry Kasparov “refused” to give up: he dried, “gave” White color, agreed to a draw in a promising position, did not capitalize on his chances, fought back in long endgames I x, made endless draws and... grew up, along the way, finally beating his great predecessor for the first time (32nd game).
The biggest test in the second half of the match for the future 13th world champion was the 41st game. Firstly, in the previous, 40th, meeting, “almost a victory was missed.”
Third(and this is also very important!), suddenly Garry Kasparov had serious opening problems. As he himself writes, “two hours before the start of the game I did not know how to play 1. e4!<…>I was nervous and rushed from scheme to scheme<…>And in the end we had a “crazy idea” to play<…>Russian party! ( pp. 210, 211).
Karpov himself dealt another sensitive blow, detonating a grand opening bomb. That is, after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.0-0 Nc6 8. c4! Nb4…
...followed 9. Be2!“Here it is, it begins!<…>When Karpov moved away with his bishop, I felt uneasy: a completely unusual position immediately arose" ( page 211). Yeah, it's such a surprise! Even a surprise! This is because now “young chess players, quickly rattling off these moves, do not even suspect that back in early 1985 it was a problem for a participant in a world championship match to find a worthy answer to 9. Be2...” ( page 212).
However, Kasparov is always Kasparov. And in the further opening fight, despite the novelty and lack of knowledge of the position, he called: 9…dxc4 Then 9...0-0 became the most popular. 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. Nc3 Nd6 12. Bb3 Bf6 13. h3 Bf5 14. Be3 Re8 15.a3…
And now...
15…Nd3? Well, we have to repeat ourselves: Kasparov - always Kasparov - forward and only forward!
But “now a forced endgame arises with White having an extra pawn, and Black will have to look for salvation.” But “a simple 15...Nc6 kept equality without any hassle (say, 16.Re1 Na5 17.Bc2 Nac4). White remained with the isolated d4 pawn, and although Black did not block it on the d5 square, their pieces were positioned quite harmoniously" ( page 213).
So, the fast and furious begins: 16. Rb1 c5 17. dxc5 Ne4 18. Bc2 Nxb2 19. Qxd8 Raxd8 20. Rxb2 Bxc3 21. Rxb7 Nxc5…
22. Bxc5. Kasparov puts an exclamation point on this move, justifying his decision by saying that “the option is 22.Rc7 Bxc2 23.Rxc5 Rc8 24.Rc1 Rxc5 25.Bxc5 Rc8 26.Bd4 Bxd4 27.Nxd4 Bf5 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8.
29.Nc6 was not an equivalent alternative: after 29...Bd7! 30.Nxa7 Kf8 White would have to return the pawn to save the knight - 31.a4 Bxa4 32.Nc8=" ( page 214).
The game further included 22...Bxc2 23.Rxa7?!"Haste! Better is 23.Rc1!, also winning a pawn, but having time to bring the king's rook into the battle. So, with 23...Rd1+ 24.Rxd1 Bxd1 25.Rxa7 (Taimanov) 25...Bxf3 26.gxf3 g6 27.a4! White has a real chance of winning. Perhaps the only acceptable defense (after 23.Rc1!) is 23...Be4! 24.Rxa7...
24...Bb2! 25.Re1 f5 26.a4 Ra8 27.Re2 Bc3, and powerful bishops must save black" ( page 214).
23...Bd1!“By excluding the f1 rook from the game, Black significantly neutralizes the opponent’s material advantage” (Averbakh). Now the game is rapidly approaching a draw" ( page 214).
So, it turns out that after 22.Bxc5(!? - vasa) Black could successfully defend. About this I had a problem.
Over the next ten moves, White pressed with all his might, but Black... But Black was clearly not up to par: 24. Re7 Rxe7 25. Bxe7 Rd3 26. Ng5 Bb2 27. Bb4 h6(27…f6!?) 28. Ne4 f5?!(better 28…Be2) 29. Nc5 Rd5 30. Re1f4?!(correct 30…Kf7) 31. a4! Rd4?(more persistent than 31…a3!) 32. a5! Rxb4.
Famous position. Having thought through 8 (of the 16 remaining!) minutes, the 12th world champion played 33.Rxd1? « Historical mistake! <…>Karpov missed an unexpected chance to win the game and the match" ( page 215). After 33. a6!+- (Dorfman) the whole history of chess could have taken a different path...
In a normal situation, Karpov, of course, would have counted everything here to the end. The variations here are not very complicated (for a world champion) and White wins everywhere. That is:
1) 33...Ba4 (33...Rd4 34.Re8+ and a7) 34.a7 Bc6 35.Re6 Bd5 36.Rd6+-.
3) 33...Rb8 34.Rxd1 Ba3 35.Nb7!+-.
“Where is the 2nd evidentiary option?” - he will immediately ask me attentive reader. But I had some “problems” with him...
So, 2) 33...Bb3 34.Nxb3 Ra4 (34...Rxb3 35.a7) 35.Nc5 Ra5 36.Re4! And now - a fork.
If 36…Kf7, then 37.Rxf4+ Bf6 38.Ra4 Rxa4 39.Nxa4 Bd4 40.Nc3!+-, because the knight goes to b5…
But how to win in case of 36...Rxc5?
In Garry Kasparov's book on page 215 it is written in black and white that White wins after 37.a7... Oh? And about this - .
34…Ba7. Keeping an eye on the pawn on f2. 35. Rd7. In response, Karpov immediately “throws” the rook into the glutton row. But “as commentators noted, 35.Nxg7!? Rb2 36.Nf5 Bxf2+ 37.Kf1. In my opinion, this was stronger: here it is more difficult for black to make a draw - they have more opportunities to make mistakes. True, after 37...h5 and Ra2 (and if 38.Ra1, then 38...Ba7) they still should have held out" ( page 215). And in connection with this remark from the 13th world champion, I had a thought.
And the game continued like this: 35. Rd7 Rb1+ 36. Kh2 Bxf2 37. Nxf4 Ra1 38. Ne6. And again a very interesting point.
38…Rxa5. «” Easier task Black with 38...g5! 39.Rg7+ (39.Rd5 Be1) 39...Kh8 40.Rg6 Kh7 41.Nf8+ Kh8 42.Ra6 (or 42.Rxh6+ Kg7 43.Rg6+ Kxf8 44.Rf6+ Kg7 45.Rxf2 Rxa5).
42...Bg1+! 43.Kg3 Ra3+!44.Kg4 Ra4+! with an inevitable draw” (Dorfman). “I saw this idea,” writes Kasparov, “but in acute time pressure I didn’t count all the checks, starting with 42...Bg1+! Moreover, when I took the a5 pawn, I believed that the resulting endgame with two pawns against one on one side was objectively a draw” ( page 216). And regarding this option, a question arose for me.
Here the game was postponed and, when played out on the 71st move, ended in a draw. And then the stage began in the match, which Kasparov himself gave this name: “The Corpse” came to life...
The history of chess goes back at least one and a half thousand years. Invented in India in the 5th-6th centuries, chess spread almost throughout the world, becoming an integral part of human culture. Exists ancient legend, which attributes the creation of chess to a certain Brahmin. For his invention, he asked the rajah for an insignificant, at first glance, reward: as many wheat grains as would be on the chessboard if one grain was placed on the first square, two grains on the second, four grains on the third, etc. It turned out , that there is no such amount of grain on the entire planet (it is equal to 264 − 1 ≈ 1.845 × 1019 grains, which is enough to fill a storage facility with a volume of 180 km³). It’s hard to say whether it was true or not, but one way or another, India is the birthplace of chess. No later than the beginning of the 6th century, the first known game related to chess, chaturanga, appeared in northwestern India. It already had a completely recognizable “chess” appearance, but it was fundamentally different from modern chess in two features: there were four players, not two (they played pairs against pairs), and moves were made in accordance with the results of throwing dice. Each player had four pieces (chariot (rook), knight, bishop, king) and four pawns. The knight and king moved the same way as in chess, the chariot and bishop were much weaker than the current chess rook and bishop. There was no queen at all. To win the game, it was necessary to destroy the entire enemy army. Turning chess into international view sports Since the 16th century, chess clubs began to appear, where amateurs and semi-professionals gathered, often playing for a monetary stake. Over the next two centuries, the spread of chess led to the emergence of national tournaments in most European countries. Chess publications are published, at first sporadic and irregular, but over time they become increasingly popular. The first chess magazine "Palamed" began to be published in 1836 by the French chess player Louis Charles Labourdonnais. In 1837, a chess magazine appeared in Great Britain, and in 1846 in Germany. In the 19th century, international matches (since 1821) and tournaments (since 1851) began to be held. At the first such tournament, held in London in 1851, Adolf Andersen won. It was he who became the unofficial “chess king,” that is, the one who was considered the strongest chess player in the world. Subsequently, this title was challenged by Paul Morphy (USA), who won the match in 1858 with a score of +7-2=2, but after Morphy left the chess scene in 1859, Andersen again became the first, and only in 1866 Wilhelm Steinitz won the match against Andersen with a score of +8- 6 and became the new “uncrowned king.” The first world chess champion to officially bear this title was the same Wilhelm Steinitz, defeating Johann Zuckertort in the first match in history, in the agreement of which the expression “world championship match” appeared. Thus, a system of title succession was established: the new world champion was the one who won the match against the previous one, while the current champion reserved the right to agree to the match or reject the opponent, and also determined the conditions and location of the match. The only mechanism that could force a champion to play a challenger was public opinion: if a strong, admittedly chess player for a long time could not get the right to a match with the champion, this was seen as a sign of the champion’s cowardice and he, saving face, was forced to accept the challenge. Typically, the match agreement provided for the champion's right to a rematch if he lost; a victory in such a match returned the championship title to the previous owner. In the second half of the 19th century, time control began to be used in chess tournaments. At first, an ordinary hourglass was used for this (the time per move was limited), which was quite inconvenient, but soon the English amateur chess player Thomas Bright Wilson (T.B. Wilson) invented a special chess clock that made it possible to conveniently implement a time limit for the entire game or for a certain number of moves . Time control quickly became part of chess practice and soon began to be used everywhere. By the end of the 19th century, official tournaments and matches without time control were practically no longer held. Simultaneously with the advent of time control, the concept of “time pressure” appeared. Thanks to the introduction of time control, special forms chess tournaments with a greatly shortened time limit: “fast chess” with a limit of about 30 minutes per game for each player and “blitz” - 5-10 minutes. However, they became widespread much later. Chess in the 20th century late XIX- at the beginning of the 20th century, the development of chess in Europe and America was very active, chess organizations became larger, and more and more international tournaments were held. In 1924, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was created, initially organizing the World Chess Olympiads. Until 1948, the system of succession of the world champion title that had developed in the 19th century was preserved: the challenger challenged the champion to a match, the winner of which became the new champion. Until 1921, the champion remained Emanuel Lasker (the second, after Steinitz, official world champion, who won this title in 1894), from 1921 to 1927 - Jose Raul Capablanca, from 1927 to 1946 - Alexander Alekhine (in 1935 Alekhine lost the world championship match to Max Euwe, but In 1937, in a rematch, he regained the title and held it until his death in 1946). After the death of Alekhine in 1946, who remained undefeated, FIDE took over the organization of the world championship. The first official world chess championship was held in 1948, the winner was the Soviet grandmaster Mikhail Botvinnik. FIDE introduced a system of tournaments to win the champion title: the winners of the qualifying stages advanced to the zonal tournaments, the winners of the zonal competitions advanced to the interzonal tournament, and the holders of the best results in the latter took part in the candidate tournament, where a series of knockout games determined the winner, who was to play the match against the reigning champion. The formula for the title match changed several times. Now the winners of zonal tournaments participate in a single tournament with the best (rated) players in the world; the winner becomes world champion. The Soviet chess school played a huge role in the history of chess, especially in the second half of the 20th century. The wide popularity of chess, active, targeted teaching of it and the identification of capable players from childhood (a chess section, a children's chess school was in every city of the USSR, there were chess clubs in educational institutions, enterprises and organizations, tournaments were constantly held, a large amount of specialized literature was published) contributed to the high level of play of Soviet chess players. Attention to chess was shown at the highest level. The result was that from the late 1940s until the collapse of the USSR, Soviet chess players virtually reigned supreme in world chess. Of the 21 chess Olympiads held from 1950 to 1990, the USSR team won 18 and became a silver medalist in another; of the 14 chess Olympiads for women during the same period, 11 were won and 2 silvers were taken. Of the 18 draws for the title of world champion among men over 40 years, only once the winner was a non-Soviet chess player (this was the American Robert Fischer), and twice more the contender for the title was not from the USSR (and the contender also represented the Soviet chess school, it was Viktor Korchnoi, fled from the USSR to the West). In 1993, Garry Kasparov, who was the world champion at that time, and Nigel Short, who became the winner of the qualifying round, refused to play another world championship match under the auspices of FIDE, accusing the federation leadership of unprofessionalism and corruption. Kasparov and Short formed new organization-PSHA, and played the match under its auspices. There was a split in the chess movement. FIDE deprived Kasparov of the title, the title of world champion according to FIDE was played between Anatoly Karpov and Jan Timman, who at that time had the highest chess rating after Kasparov and Short. At the same time, Kasparov continued to consider himself a “real” world champion, since he defended the title in a match with a legitimate contender - Short, and part of the chess community was in solidarity with him. In 1996, the PCA ceased to exist as a result of the loss of a sponsor, after which the PCA champions began to be called “world classical chess champions.” In essence, Kasparov revived old system title transfers, when the champion himself accepted the challenger's challenge and played a match with him. The next “classical” champion was Vladimir Kramnik, who won a match against Kasparov in 2000 and defended the title in a match with Peter Leko in 2004. Until 1998, FIDE continued to play out the champion title in the traditional manner (Anatoly Karpov remained the FIDE champion during this period), but from 1999 to In 2004, the format of the championship changed dramatically: instead of a match between a challenger and a champion, the title began to be played out in a knockout tournament, in which the current champion had to participate on a general basis. As a result, the title constantly changed hands and five champions changed in six years. In general, in the 1990s, FIDE made a number of attempts to make chess competitions more dynamic and interesting, and therefore attractive to potential sponsors. First of all, this was expressed in the transition in a number of competitions from the Swiss or round-robin system to the knockout system (in each round there is a match of three knockout games). Since the knockout system requires an unambiguous outcome of the round, additional games of rapid chess and even blitz games have appeared in the tournament regulations: if the main series of games with regular time control ends in a draw, an additional game is played with a shortened time control. Complicated time control schemes began to be used, protecting against severe time pressure, in particular, the “Fischer clock” - time control with addition after each move. The last decade of the 20th century in chess was marked by another important event - computer chess reached a high enough level to surpass human chess players. In 1996, Garry Kasparov lost a game to a computer for the first time, and in 1997, he also lost a match to the computer Deep Blue by one point. The avalanche-like growth in computer productivity and memory capacity, combined with improved algorithms, led to the emergence of publicly available programs by the beginning of the 21st century that could play at the grandmaster level in real time. The ability to connect to them pre-accumulated databases of debuts and tables of small-figure endings further increases the strength of the machine’s play and completely eliminates the danger of making a mistake in a known position. Now the computer can effectively advise a human chess player even at the highest level of competitions. The consequence of this was changes in the format of high-level competitions: tournaments began to use special measures to protect against computer hints, in addition, the practice of postponing games was completely abandoned. The time allotted to the game was reduced: if in the middle of the 20th century the norm was 2.5 hours for 40 moves, then by the end of the century it decreased to 2 hours (in other cases - even 100 minutes) for 40 moves. Current state and prospects After the unification match Kramnik - Topalov in 2006, FIDE's monopoly on holding the world championship and awarding the title of world chess champion was restored. The first “unified” world champion was Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), who won this match. Until 2013, the world champion was Viswanathan Anand, who won the 2007 world championship. In 2008, a rematch took place between Anand and Kramnik, Anand retained his title. In 2010, another match was held, in which Anand and Veselin Topalov took part; Anand again defended the title of champion. In 2012, a match was held in which Anand and Gelfand took part; Anand defended his championship title in a tiebreaker. In 2013, Anand lost the world champion title to Magnus Carlsen, who won the match ahead of schedule with a score of 6½: 3½. The formula for the championship title is being adjusted by FIDE. In the last championship, the title was played out in a tournament with the participation of the champion, four winners of the candidate tournament and three personally selected players with the highest rating. However, FIDE has also retained the tradition of holding personal matches between the champion and the challenger: existing rules, a grandmaster with a rating of 2700 or higher has the right to challenge the champion to a match (the champion cannot refuse), provided that funding is provided and deadlines are met: the match must end no later than six months before the start of the next world championship. The progress of computer chess mentioned above has become one of the reasons for the growing popularity of non-classical chess variants. Since 2000, Fischer chess tournaments have been held, in which the initial arrangement of pieces is chosen randomly before the game from 960 options. In such conditions, the huge array of opening variations accumulated by chess theory becomes useless, which, as many believe, has a positive effect on the creative component of the game, and when playing against a machine, it noticeably limits the advantage of the computer in the opening stage of the game.
2008)
Viktor Korchnoi (standing in the center) is rooting for Anatoly Karpov. It's a paradox: they're on the same team. Sochi, 2007.
Start of the marathon. Column Hall of the House of Unions. Moscow, 1984.
Anatoly Karpov congratulates Garry Kasparov on his victory and winning the chess crown (game 24 of the second match).
Scandalous press conference at the end of the 1984 match. While Kasparov is indignant, Karpov and FIDE President Campomanes have already agreed on everything. An hour later the match was stopped.
Super tournament in Las Palmas (Spain), 1996.
The last meeting of the two great "K's". Zurich, 2006.
We continue the story about the fights for the title of world chess champion*. Anatoly Karpov has seven matches in line: two with Viktor Korchnoi and five with Garry Kasparov. Let us not touch upon the fact that all these meetings were of a political nature and therefore attracted special attention throughout the world. As usual, we are interested only in the most striking episodes of the struggle.
29 Anatoly Karpov's battle with Viktor Korchnoi in Baguio in 1978 was brutal. The battle lasted for more than two months, and everything turned out quite successfully for Karpov. After 27 games, the score of the effective games reached 5:2 in his favor (the match was played until 6 wins), and it seemed that the matter had come to an end. But excessive confidence somewhat relaxed Karpov, and with desperate efforts Korchnoi equalized the score - 5:5. And yet, the world champion succeeded in the last, decisive battle (32nd game).
Karpov - Korchnoi
(Image 1)
25. e5! de. No better than 25...Nf:d5 26. Nh5 + gh (26...Kh8 27. Qh6 Rg8 28. Ng5) 27. Qg5 + Kh8 28. Qf5.
25...de 26. Q:e5 Kc:d5 27. B:b5 Ra7 28. Nh4 Bc8 29. Be2! Be6 30. c4 Nb4 31. Q:c5 Qb8 32. Bf1 Rc8 33. Qg5 Kh8 34. Rd2 Kc6 35. Qh6 Rg8 36. Nf3 Qf8 37. Qe3 Kg7 38. Ng5 Bd7 39. b4 Qa8 40. b5 Na5 41. b6 Rb7. The blacks surrendered.
30 Three years later in Merano, Karpov again had the chance to fight Korchnoi. This time everything happened without shocks. From the very beginning he took the lead, and subsequently the gap widened. The opening victory turned out to be bright.
Korchnoi - Karpov
(Image 2)
24...d4! Here Korchnoi retreated on horseback - 25. Ke2. But before making a breakthrough in the center, his partner had to carefully study the options associated with 25. ed. And Karpov established that after 25...Сс6! 26. Qc4 B:f3 27. gf cd 28. Na4 Qb5 29. Qe2 Re8! 30. Qxb5 ab 31. Nb6 Rc6 White is left without a piece.
And the game ended quite prosaically: 25...de 26. fe c4 27. Kd4 Qc7 28. Nh4 Qe5 29. Kh1 Kg8 30. Ndf3 Q:g3 31. R:d8 + B:d8 32. Qb4 Be4! 33. B:e4 N:e4 34. Rd4 Nf2+ 35. Kg1 Nd3 36. Qb7 Rb8 37. Qd7 Bc7 38. Kh1 R:b2 39. R:d3 cd 40. FAZ Fib41. Qe4 Qd1 + 42. Ng1 Qd643. Nhf3 Rb5. The Whites surrendered.
31 The era of confrontation between Karpov and Kasparov has arrived. In their five matches, every conceivable record was broken - in total, the grandmasters played 144 meetings at the board! However, the first marathon (Moscow, 1984-1985) was interrupted by the then FIDE President Campomanes after 48 games with the score 5:3 in favor of Karpov. Kasparov won two games in a row, and a turning point was clearly in sight in the match. And then the FIDE president, under pressure from the Soviet party and sports authorities, was forced to stop the match. Meanwhile, the world champion could win the sixth, desired victory in the 41st game.
Karpov - Kasparov
(Image 3)
In time trouble, Karpov took the bishop on d1 and the matter ended in a draw. However, if White had not rushed with 33. Rxd1, but immediately moved the extreme pawn forward, then the match would have been over that evening.
33. a6! Now bad 33...Rb8 34. R:d1 Ba3 35. Nb7! Rd8+ threatens, and on 35...Be7 follows 36. Rd7 and then Na5, a6-a7, Nc6, Rb7, and it’s all over. It is not possible to escape with the bishop - 33...Ca4 34. a7 Bc6 35. Le6 Bd5 36. Rd6, still taking the bishop, after which the white “a” pawn did its dirty deed.
33...Bb3 34. N:b3 Ra4. Or 34...R:b3 35. Re8+ and 36. a7.
35. Nc5 Ra5 36. Re4!, and there is no protection from 37. Ra4! R:a4 38. N:a4 Bd4 39. Nc3! and 40. Nb5!
32 The repeat match in Moscow at the end of 1985 took place at Kasparov’s initiative, but everything was decided in the last, 24th game. Prominent analysts have been analyzing it for more than twenty years, but it seems that all the secrets have not yet been revealed. Karpov was a point behind, but did not take advantage of all the opportunities.
Karpov - Kasparov
Sicilian Defense
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd 4. N:d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2. In recent years, the line 6. Be3 followed by f2-f3 and g2-g4 has become fashionable in Scheveningen.
6...e6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. f4 0-0 9. Kh1 Qc7 10. a4 Keb I. Be3 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. Nb3 b6 15. g4 Bc8 16. g5 Nd7 17 . Qf2 Bf8 18. Bg2 Bb7 19. Rad1 g6 20. Bc1 Rbc8 21. Rd3! Nb4 22. Rh3 Bg7 23. Be3?! A critical moment in the game. After the match, Karpov claimed that 23. f5! led to a win, but did not provide evidence. Computer analysis later showed that Black held the position. In any case, the f4-f5 maneuver provided rich practical chances.
23...Re7! One of the most subtle moves in Kasparov's chess career! Black defends the seventh rank and, doubling his rooks, prepares for an active counterattack.
24. Kg1 Rce8 25. Rd1.
(Image 4)
25...f5! 26. gf K:f6. After 26...B:f6 the sides' chances would be equal. Kasparov strives for aggravations that could turn out to be dangerous.
27. Rg3? The correct move was 27. Bxb6!, to which Kasparov was going to respond with 27...Qb8 28. a5 e5, but underestimated the capture of 29. fe with White's advantage. Karpov misses the last chance to try to equalize the score.
27...Rf7! 28. B:b6 Qb8 29. Be3 Nh5 30. Rg4 Nf6 31. Rh4 g5! 32. fg Ng4. A beautiful move, but even better was 32...K:e4.
33. Qd2 N:e3 34. Q:e3 N:c2 35. Qb6 Ba8 36. R:d6? The exchange of queens 36. Q:b8 R:b8 followed by 37. Bh3 kept the tension on the board, however, safe for black. And the forced attempt to cause complications ends in a complete fiasco for Karpov.
36...Rb7! 37. Q:a6 R:b3 38. R:e6 R:b2. After 38...Ce3! It would have been difficult for White to resist, but Kasparov considered that there was no point in forcing events.
39. Qc4 Kh8 40. e5? The control move turns out to be a decisive mistake; the exchange on e8 still preserved the chances of a draw.
40...Qa7+ 41. Kh1 B:g2+ 42. K:g2 Nd4 + . The Whites surrendered.
33 The 1986 rematch was tense, but Karpov had no chance of returning to the throne. The 16th fight left a powerful impression.
Kasparov - Karpov
(Illustration 5)
In a tense Spanish battle, White sacrificed a piece and carried out the final elegantly.
34. Nh6 Fe7 35. R:g6! Qe5 36. Rg8 + Ke7 37. d6 +! The black king fails to escape - 37...K:d6 38. N:f7 + .
37...Ke6 38. Re8 + Kd5 39. R:e5 + N:e5 40. d7 Rb8 41. N:f7. the blacks surrendered.
34 The match in Seville in 1987 was an even fight, and the score 11:11 two rounds before the end was quite consistent with the game. However, Karpov won the 23rd game and took the lead. And in the 24th, Kasparov achieved a feat - for the first time in the history of matches for the crown, he won “by order”, restored the status quo and retained the crown. The final of the match was dramatic.
Kasparov - Karpov
(Image 6)
Black's pieces are scattered across the board, and, continuing with 33. Qb5!, Kasparov built a mating ring around the enemy king, for example: 33...Kh7 34. Nc6 Qa8 35. Qd3 + f5 36. Qd8 Nc5 37. Kg2 Qa2 38. Ne5! Qb2 39. Nf7 Qf6 40. Qh8 + Kg6 41. Qg8!
33. Qd1?? A terrible oversight that could have caused Kasparov to lose his throne.
33...Ne7?? The last one to make a mistake is Karpov. The draw was forced by 33...Ks5! 34. Qd8 + Kh7 35.
Kg2 (35. Q:c8 Qa1 + and 36...Q:e5) 35...f6! 36. Nc6 Qd7 37. Q:d7 N:d7 38. Nd8 Nc5 39. N:e6! Nxe6 40. Bg4.
34. Qd8 + Kh7 35. Nxf7. White destroyed the enemy's root pawn and, although material equality was only restored on the board, in the end he won the coveted point.
35...Kg6 36. Qe8 Qe7 37. Q:a4 Q:f7 38. Be4 Kg8 39. Qb5. White's queen endgame won after 39. B:g6 Q:g6 40. Qb3.
39...Nf8 40. Q:b6. Now White has both a positional and material advantage.
40...Qf6 41. Qb5 Qe7 42. Kg2 g6 43. Q5 Qg7 44. Qc5 Qf7 45. h4 h5. 45... Kg7 was more persistent.
46. Qc6 Qe7 47. Bd3 Qf7 48. Qd6 Kg7 49. e4 Kg8 50. Bc4 Kg7 51. Qe5+ Kg8 52. Qd6 Kg7 53. Bb5 Kg8 54. Bc6 Qa7 55. Qb4! Qc7 56. Qb7 Qd8 57. e5! That's it, Black's resistance is broken: you can't imagine a worse position for his pawns.
57...Qa5 58. Be8 Qc5 59. Qf7+ Kh8 60. Qa4 Qd5 + 61. Kh2 Qc5 62. Bb3 Qc8 63. Bd1 Qc5 64. Kg2. the blacks surrendered. Kasparov gave this option, confirming the correctness of the opponent’s decision: 64...Qb4 65. Bf3 Qc5 66. Be4 Qb4 67. f3 Qd2 + 68. Kh3 Qb4 69. B:g6 K: g6 70. Q:g6 Q:h4+ 71. Kg2!
35 In the last, fifth duel of the two “K”s in 1990, Kasparov was again clearly superior to Karpov. Let's take a short but fun 11th game, which ended in a perpetual check almost in the opening.
Karpov - Kasparov
King's Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 ed. In this match, this position arose constantly, and Kasparov, in addition to exchanging pawns in the center, tried 7... Fe7, 7... Ka6 and 7... c6.
8. N:d4 Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Qd2 d5 11. ed cd 12. 0-0 Nc6 13. c5 R:e3 14. Q:e3 Qf8 15. N:c6 bc 16. Kh1 Rb8 17. Na4 Rb4 18. b3 Be6. Here White should have continued with 19. Rad1, and after retreating with his knight, Kasparov managed to eliminate all dangers.
19. Nb2?! Nh5 20. Nd3 Rh4 21. Qf2 Qe7 22. g4. It seems that the blacks are suffering new material losses, but they have a path to salvation.
(Illustration 7)
22...Bd4! 23. Q:d4. 23. Qg2 B:a1 24. R:a1 Qf6 and 25...Nf4 gives nothing, taking advantage of the fact that the enemy queen has lost control of Black’s stray rook. And the game lasted only one and a half moves.
23...R:h2 +! 24. K:h2 Qh4 + with perpetual check on squares g3 and h4.
The legendary Soviet and Russian chess player, the 12th world champion, gave a frank interview to the SE columnist.
Igor RABINER
We talked in the deputy office of Anatoly Karpov in the State Duma, where he works on the International Affairs Committee. It happened after the blitz tournament for the Region Group Cup, which was patronized by the great chess player. When the conversation ended, we approached a huge map of the Tyumen region, which he represents in the Duma.
“We will soon organize a chess match on the Internet between juvenile delinquents from the Tyumen region and Switzerland,” Karpov amazed, showing on the map which troubled teenagers from which cities would participate in it. I tried to imagine. Imagination failed. But what is beyond the power of a person with whom Soviet - and not only - leaders once considered it an honor to communicate. I don’t think, for example, that in any other corner of Russia you can find more than those 250 schools from the Tyumen region where, thanks to Karpov, chess is taught as a compulsory or additional discipline.
He turned out to be a very sociable, friendly and not at all arrogant person. Well, there’s no need to talk about the sharpness of his memory. Despite the fact that every few minutes he was distracted by some important call, Karpov invariably returned to the place in the conversation where he left off and continued his fascinating story. As a result, we talked for two hours - and I still felt that I had not “finished enough” of this conversation. Even though he sincerely admitted to his interlocutor: in the 80s, being a typical rebellious teenager, in their great confrontation with Garry Kasparov, I rooted for the latter...
Garry KASPAROV. Photo by Alexey IVANOV, "SE"
WE NEEDED TO PUT A BOARD WITH A CLOCK IN KASPAROV'S CHAMBER
I was greatly impressed by the story of how in the mid-2000s you came to Kasparov’s pre-trial detention center, where he was imprisoned for five days for organizing the “March of Dissent.” What made you do this, and how could the police not let you, Karpov, go there? - I ask Karpov.
They didn’t let me in because at the time of my arrival Moscow was left without police generals. Kasparov's punishment seemed overly harsh to me. I went to make sure that Kasparov, at least according to the conditions, was fine there.
- He was surprised?
Yes. But I found out about this only after, because I was not allowed to see him. Just stupidity! On the contrary, it was necessary to launch it - and even put up a board with a clock. Can you imagine a chess match between two world champions in a chamber? This would be shown on TV screens all over the world!
We came there with Vladimir Ryzhkov, he was then a current deputy, but I was not. He was also not allowed into Kasparov’s cell, but was allowed to go into at least administrative building on Petrovka. And they told me: “We can’t let the deputy through, and you, excuse me, don’t have the right.” Although it’s funny - I’ve been in this building, if not hundreds, then dozens of times. In my time, almost every office there had both chess and a clock. And then, completely unexpectedly, there were such obstacles.
Then some colonel came out to me. He said that it was not within his authority to ensure the meeting, and they would decide. After 20-25 minutes, he comes out with Ryzhkov: “We tried to contact the management, but we couldn’t.” That’s why I say that for at least 20 minutes Moscow was left without generals. He took pity: “Why do you need to stand here? Go to the waiting room.” Ryzhkov and I passed. Klara Shagenovna, Kasparov’s mother, was there. We talked to her a little...
- After which, as Kasparov said in an interview, he “greatly softened all the assessments in the book that he was writing then.”
Literally 10 - 15 minutes later the same colonel came and said: “You know, we can’t find the authorities. If you want, wait again.” But I realized that even if I sat there until the evening, there would still be no generals in Moscow. And he decided not to deprive the capital of the police generals ( laughs).
A few days later, you and Kasparov went together to see Echo of Moscow. Did you have a frank conversation with him?
And we communicated before that, and quite a lot. We played for the same team at the Chess Olympiad. There was no specific conversation, but there was enough contact.
- When you come to the USA, don’t you see Kasparov, who now lives there?
I visited his apartment in New York, it was wonderful. Now I’m not in America much, I have more business at the European UN office. We meet rarely, because both he and I rarely go to chess events. The last time we saw each other was in Norway at the Chess Olympiad (2014 - Note "SE").
- From a creative point of view, are you sorry that he left chess for politics?
In general, he left chess early. Although I recently played in one tournament - and not bad, even good. But Kasparov has such an energetic style that, apparently, he realized that he no longer had enough energy to play chess at top level. And the level below did not suit him. That's why he left chess.
The last Russian championship, which Harry, with great luck, won (in 2004 - Note "SE"), required a lot of strength from him. At least, the fight was very sharp, and I remember that Tseshkovsky lost to him in a completely won position. So his choice may have been forced.
Juan Antonio SAMARNC. Photo "SE"
AT SAMARANCH WE HAVE ALREADY ALREADY ALMOST AGREED ABOUT CHESS AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS
I have long noticed that irreconcilable rivals begin to gravitate towards each other over the years - perhaps realizing the greatness of the rivalry. This is what happened in football between Konstantin Beskov and Valery Lobanovsky. Did you and Kasparov have this feeling, and is the warming in relations connected with it?
Even in the most difficult times, we had an understanding of common tasks. Otherwise, we would not have played on the same team at the Chess Olympiad. We could overcome or temporarily put aside our opposition to the fight for the chess crown and together achieve team success.
And in Lately- and even before I tried to visit him in the pre-trial detention center - we had and still have the same understanding of what can be done in chess and what cannot be done. In general, it is our fault that such a situation has arisen in the chess world. Because world champions have always been guarantors of quality. And they slapped the hands of everyone who tried to get into professional chess and disrupt the system of holding world championships. From time immemorial, world champions have occupied such positions!
The world champions did not usurp power in order to remake some rules in their favor. The confrontation between Alekhine and Capablanca stood apart. Capablanca put serious financial barriers to the match, but Alekhine overcame them and became the world champion. After which he put up the same barriers for Capablanca, and the rematch did not take place.
On the initiative of Botvinnik, when he became world champion, the system was built clearly and clearly. We stood guard over it, developed it and improved it. For our match with Korchnoi in 1978, the set of rules for the world championship match barely fit into a hundred pages. Everything was spelled out there - the obligations of the participants, the organizers, the conditions. And then because of my confrontation with Kasparov, first Campomanes ( ex-president FIDE. - Note "SE") got in with changes, albeit financial and cosmetic ones. And then Ilyumzhinov got in full force. Only because, firstly, we simply didn’t have time to do it. And they took advantage of our differences and lack of a common position. Then she appeared. Now Kasparov and I have the same understanding. In chess, of course. Otherwise, we are completely different.
- And what is your common understanding of the situation in chess?
We understand that no one needs random champions. If a relatively weak person breaks through to the title of world champion, then damage is done to the entire chess movement. Because it is impossible to find money and sponsors for unknown names.
I don’t want to say that Rustam Kasimdzhanov (2004 FIDE world champion. - Note "SE") is a very bad chess player. But he should not have, having become a world champion, allowed himself to get into the open tournament in Germany and end up in 45th place. If you are not confident in yourself, do not go to the start line. And how much money can you raise for Kasimdzhanov’s match with the next contender, if you are 45th in the world?
Is it still possible for chess to be included in the Winter Olympics program?
Under Juan Antonio Samaranch this was already almost guaranteed. And if Ilyumzhinov had rushed, we probably would have made it in time. Winter Games are not oversaturated like the summer ones, in which, as far as I know, more than 6 thousand athletes now participate. In winter - just over a thousand, it’s easy to fit in there.
But under Jacques Rogg this idea was killed. If it were not for Russia, Rogge would never have become president of the IOC - but, having become one, he did not fulfill even half of the promises he made to our country. Rogge, I think, did a lot against Russian sports. Under Thomas Bach the situation is better, but the chances are still much less than they were under Samaranch.
THOUGHT THAT KARYAKIN WAS ALREADY WINNING THE MATCH AGAINST CARLSENS
Why was there a stir around the Carlsen-Karjakin match that was incomparable to anything since your time with Kasparov?
He was with us more than usual because we missed him. Because they haven’t participated in matches for the crown for a long time, even when they were held in Russia. And when Kramnik played with Anand, there was just a decline in interest due to the reform of the world championship system. Since the mid-90s, FIDE has caused enormous damage to the development of chess. For example, by introducing the idiotic Olympic system to determine the title of world champion.
We immediately started saying: let’s hold the World Cup according to the Olympic system, do what you want with it. But world champion is historically the most honorable and important title in the chess world; it cannot be played out in a lottery! The leapfrog was such that not only chess lovers - even I didn’t always remember who the world champion was now!
- Karjakin believes that Carlsen is stronger than Kasparov in his best years. Do you agree?
Don't think. I don’t know whether Carlsen has reached his peak or not, but it seems to me that Magnus has not yet reached the level at which Kasparov and I played.
Many perceive the recent match between Carlsen and Karjakin as a new round of your confrontation with Kasparov. After all, you provided some assistance to the Russian, and Harry to the Norwegian. Do you agree with this interpretation?
Partly. Kasparov and Magnus once worked together, but I think that now he no longer needed his help. And Sergei has his own views on preparation. Another thing is that we meet and play - while I am still at such a level to resist. Although he works on chess every day, and I only work on it from meeting to meeting. Previously, we saw each other about once a month, now - once every two or three.
- Does it happen that you beat him?
Of course it happens. Otherwise he wouldn’t be interested, and we wouldn’t have met ( smiling). Not so long ago we played blitz almost on equal terms. By the way, well done for him that soon after the match with Carlsen he pulled himself together and won the World Blitz Championship. I didn't expect this. I thought he was one of the best in this sport, but not the best.
Do you admit that Karjakin missed a chance that could be his only one, and he will turn out to be the Korchnoi of the new generation?
The chance was, of course, amazing. I actually thought that he was already winning the match. Firstly, Carlsen did not play very confidently. In two games, the 4th and 5th, he had a win, in one of them he had a forced win. But he didn’t take advantage of it and apparently got upset. At this moment, Sergei seized the initiative. And to be honest, I don’t understand how I didn’t see the perpetual check in the 10th game.
Is this similar to how you didn’t see a winning move in the last game in Seville in 1987, and thanks to this Kasparov retained the title? And what is the nature of these errors?
I had a lot of time pressure. And terrible fatigue. This was the 24th game. Despite the fact that I spent so much effort finishing the 23rd! There was a long analysis, I hardly slept. Serious attrition has occurred. They couldn’t have this, since the match is much shorter.
Probably Karjakin simply lost concentration for a moment. Although, if I had thought about it a little, I would probably have seen this eternal check. Because Carlsen practically told him that there was a draw option. At some point, Magnus thought for about 40 minutes, which was a very long time for him. And I couldn’t find anything better than to make a natural move. Here Karjakin had to figure out - why would the champion spend 40 minutes thinking about a natural move and making it? So there is something. And he reacted very quickly. AND...
- Karyakin told SE that before he left for New York, you gave him advice that helped. Which?
Why would I reveal them? ( smiling) He still hopes to reach Karslen. By the way, the task is not easy. I think that for him, and for any of the five or six approximately equal chess players, reaching the champion is about as difficult as beating him.
AFTER MEETING WITH FISCHER, THE KGB OPENED A DOSSIER ON ME
I read that thanks to your assistance, Viktor Korchnoi was allowed to travel abroad in 1975, after he had been banned from traveling abroad for a year. Didn't the KGB give you a blow later when he asked for political asylum in Holland?
He later explained that he did not let Karpov down, since he stayed not during the first trip, when I vouched for him, but on the second ( laughs). But there were few pleasant moments. Moreover, at that time I had my own problems.
- Which?
I met with Fischer through Campomanes, without the permission of our leadership, and we tried to agree on organizing the match. And it so happened that our meeting and Korchnoi’s decision happened at the same time. And, it seems, down to minutes. Because I talked with Fischer at seven in the evening in Tokyo, and Korchnoi asked for political asylum in Amsterdam at 10 in the morning. So more important questions arose for me than Korchnoi’s flight.
- Did you call to Lubyanka?
They didn’t call me, but they opened the file.
- Why didn’t you come to an agreement with Fischer?
I think he was not internally tuned in and ready to play.
- Did he communicate normally with you, considering that he was an ideological anti-communist?
Absolutely normal. We spoke English. I immediately realized that two topics should not be discussed with him - the Bolsheviks and the Jews. Everything else is fine.
- By the 21st century, he was completely crazy if he loudly praised Al-Qaeda for the destruction of the Twin Towers?
He said the Americans deserved it. I remember that Fischer wrote an eight- to nine-page article after the police arrested him in Pasadena and kept him in the police station for a whole day. They could not sneeze that there was a great champion in front of them. He didn't like it terribly, and he launched into an article about it.
Did the President of the Russian Chess Federation Andrei Filatov tell the truth that when Fischer was later sent to prison in Japan for a match with Spassky in Yugoslavia during sanctions against that country, Spassky offered to put himself in the same cell with him? And Fischer reacted to this like this: “I don’t need Boris. Better send Alexandra Kosteniuk”?
Honestly I do not know. At first Fischer lived in Hungary, then he was sent to Japan. As far as I know, the Japanese authorities confused him with some kind of repeat offender. The Americans themselves were not happy that the Japanese detained Fisher. Because it’s like a burning coal - you don’t know what to do with it, and there is a risk of being severely scorched ( smiling).
- But Spassky was really ready to sit in the same cell with him?
Spassky treated Fischer very well. And it was mutual. So, it is quite possible that Boris Vasilyevich made such statements.
If Fischer had returned to chess later in the 80s, could he have won the crown? Or is it impossible to maintain strength without playing with anyone for a long time?
Who knows? Fischer was strong. He would have had a chance.
- I saw him in last years his life?
No. But once I was in Budapest, and at the last moment, before the plane, I was dragged into the Turkish baths. I swam, then sat on the steps of the pool and talked with a friend. Then some Hungarian swims past. Recognized and greeted. He says: "You are sitting on interesting place. Will you be here for another hour?" - "No, we have to leave in 15-20 minutes." - "In an hour we would meet with Fischer. He comes here at this time.” But it didn’t happen.
AGREEMENT WITH KORCHNOI: HE DOESN’T SMOKE ME, I DON’T COME BEHIND HIS BACK
The famous phrase from “12 Chairs”: “Lasker has reached the point of vulgar things - he smokes his opponents with cigars,” they say, was true. Have you encountered this problem?
In the 70s, smoking was allowed in international competitions. We had a strange system: in a three-year cycle, we played two national championships with a smoking ban and one with permission. Because this championship was a qualifying championship in the World Championship system and was played according to international rules. It was very difficult to resolve issues with our firefighters - but somehow they solved them.
Tal was the biggest smoker; he could smoke up to two packs a day. In second place is Korchnoi. But we easily agreed with him. Korchnoi did not like it when people came behind him during the game. I didn’t really like it either, but I took it calmly and didn’t protest too much. But Viktor Lvovich didn’t actively like it. I didn’t like being smoked, because I had never smoked in my life and had never even tried it. So, even when Korchnoi and I had a very difficult relationship, we shook hands: I don’t go behind his back during a game, and he goes into his room to smoke. And this agreement has always been respected.
- Has Korchnoi lost his hostility towards you in his old age?
Of course, if he played for my South Ural team for three years. We also once arranged a friendly match in Kazan. On the eve of the anniversary, the cities organized a meeting between the teams of Europe and Tatarstan. I became captain of the continental team, and Korchnoi was included in it. But he hesitated, at the last moment he went to get a visa - but they didn’t give it to him.
- You haven’t arrived yet?
He came to the consulate and said: “Karpov invited me, but you won’t give me a visa.” They contacted me, I sent a letter to the embassy, and then they immediately allowed it. That same day, Korchnoi caught a plane. Our relations with him normalized as soon as the intensity of the rivalry for the crown subsided. Once upon a time in Leningrad we were friends. We have already mentioned the fact that I acted as the guarantor of his departure and lifted the penalties that the federation and the State Sports Committee took against him. Time has smoothed everything out.
- They say they tried to poison you at the match against Korchnoi in Baguio. How?
It wasn't such a serious subject. Still, we took all precautions. We had our own cook, and we always bought food in different places so that it cannot be calculated. But they could have added something. Fortunately, it didn't work out.
- Did you stop by to congratulate Spassky on his 80th birthday?
- Is it true that he lives in a small one-room apartment on Ryazansky Prospekt?
He arranged all these transfers himself. He had a larger apartment here. They sold it, went to Rybinsk, lived there, and have now returned.
- Is it true that Spassky was an open dissident while living in the USSR?
He became a dissident because he met his future wife Marina, an employee of the French embassy in Moscow, daughter of a colonel tsarist army from Revel. Their relationship was hindered... In general, Spassky complains about a lot, but a significant part of his problems arose from laziness.
- That is?
The Union had a planned economy system. And there were demands that around November all leading chess players, especially the world champion, present plans for participation in competitions and training camps for the next year. They were approved by the State Sports Committee and the Chess Federation. Spassky never did this. Then he got hot, and he came running: look, you won’t organize training camps for me. They say to him: “You didn’t present us with a plan - when needed, where.”
I've never knocked anyone out of any tournament. Unlike the same Spassky, who in 1970 knocked me out of the tournament in Holland. They promised it to me when I became the world junior champion. Spassky realized at the last moment that he had to play there. And when he was finally included there, he declared that a thunderstorm was approaching him in the person of Bobby Fischer, and he had no reason to go to Holland with the young chess player Karpov, but needed his sparring partners - Geller and Polugaevsky. And in one minute I was kicked out of this tournament. You have to do everything on time, and not create the wrong image for yourself!
- Who are the brightest and heaviest people among the world champions for you?
Of the champions, it is not so easy to find the brightest ones. Of those I knew, I would like to name Max Euwe. He was very sociable even before he became FIDE President, and remained so in his high position.
At one time, Spassky was completely normal. I haven’t played with Fischer yet. Why? I did not analyze Spassky's personality development. But, since I interacted with him a lot, I know that serious changes have occurred. Heavy... This is clear - Botvinnik, Fischer, Kasparov.
BOTVINNIK DIDN’T SEE MY MAIN QUALITY
As a child, you studied at Botvinnik’s school, but when you were 12 years old, the master said: “It’s a shame, but nothing will come of Tolya.” When they became world champion, there was no desire to say: “Mikhail Moiseevich, you see how it turned out?”
By that time he himself had already changed his mind. When eight years later, in 1971, I won a very strong tournament in memory of Alekhine in Moscow, Botvinnik said: “Remember this day. A new great star has appeared on the chess horizon.”
But the fact was that when I got to Botvinnik’s school, I was the youngest, and the other guys had much deeper theoretical knowledge than me. At that age, even a year difference means a lot, and, for example, Sasha Dubinsky was seven years older than me.
But Botvinnik saw no other way. The fact that I have a special quality is persistence in defense. This comes to light when you start working, and ignorance of the theory is obvious. And when Botvinnik saw that a seemingly talented boy had arrived, but he didn’t know the theory, then he said so. It’s strange that he didn’t analyze: if I play almost at the same level as older guys, then I have some advantages.
- Did this assessment hurt you?
I can't say what's special. At that time I didn’t even know if I would play, let alone be a champion. There was no tragedy. I just liked playing chess - so I played. Botvinnik said - and said. Now, if since childhood I had aimed to become a world champion and Botvinnik’s opinion was extremely important to me, then maybe I would not have become a champion.
- At what age did you set your sights on higher goals?
Yes, in no way. Even as a student, I didn’t know that I would focus on chess. Even when I became the youngest grandmaster in the world in 1970, I didn’t know either! Maybe that’s why I studied well ( smiling). Only when I had already entered the circle of contenders for the crown did I realize that chess would be the main focus.
But I never gave up my studies, science, or my connections with universities - I studied at both Leningrad State University and Moscow State University. I am just one of three honorary professors of both universities - Moscow and St. Petersburg. More precisely, honorary professor of Moscow State University and honorary doctor of St. Petersburg State University.
I still understand the importance of studying. I remember at school I didn’t understand why they required me to write a plan in my presentation. I always told my teachers: “Yes, I know what to write about!” I have a good memory, I could recite almost verbatim everything I listened to. And then I realized: in the same chess there is nothing to do without a plan! Without it, consider yourself a two-digit head start.
"The laws of the world are very simple
There are kings and jesters on earth.
But why does this happen sometimes?
Can't figure out who's the jester and who's the king...
Happiness is not forever, glory is blind,
And kings are chosen by the crowd...
Kings of night Verona.
There are no laws written for us.
We are crazy luck children
We live an easy life in the world.
In our life, every now and then,
The body conquers the soul.
But the Lord is for everything
He will forgive us by dawn."
(musical “Romeo and Juliet”)
Yes, not in Verona, but in Valencia, Spain! 25 years later, a quarter of a century from the day of their first “endless duel,” they met again, but as friends-rivals! The “Great Confrontation” - the “two Ks”, celebrating its anniversary, which was timed to coincide with this seemingly “prank duel” - in my opinion, is priceless precisely in its human form. Not just two people were “reconciled”, two irreconcilable rivals, two systems of values. “Among the worlds in the twinkling of the luminaries,” they were able to leave irreconcilable contradictions, and, if not share the “views and sympathies of the other,” then extend a hand after “many years of war” in all directions: chess, ideological, professionally, they proved: smart and talented people are capable of moving mountains, if it were up to me, I would make a film or write a script (or maybe someone would write it) that had everything: spy passions and intrigue (like matches). two “K”s were interrupted, which agents were tracking down information, how the seconds “betrayed”), and political confrontation (even from Brezhnev, pointing his finger at Karpov - the title of World Champion “not to be given to anyone”; Kasparov, putting the forbidden tricolor on the chess table).. .
How many stages of the country’s life have they “passed through” themselves, like through a meat grinder, and... the minced meat cannot be turned back... Karpov is a “man of the system”, a fighter for the unity of the USSR, president of the Peace Foundation vs Kasparov, who went into radical opposition , who split the unified chess, creating the PCA, who again returned to the fold of FIDE tournaments. And an indicative detail, years later, when G. Kasparov was arrested by the Putin regime, detained, put in prison... it was A. Karpov who was one of the first to visit him in the dungeons. It’s very masculine to extend a hand, overlooking contradictions, grievances, etc. They still differ on many issues, but I’m sure that they “will not be on opposite sides of the barricades” and will not dare to “shoot” at each other. , - because there is another CULTURE, a chess SCHOOL, in which bullying and other primitive and base “basic instincts” that are in fashion today, under the “boyish sovereign democracy of duumvirs,” have no place. Look at the “Kremlin gopota”, pro-Kremlin activists, this one. the young junk of the Red Guards - “Ours”, “Young Guard”, etc. - to poison their sworn enemies - politicians, journalists, as, for example, “they are the only ones they can do, they are not capable of anything else. There are no chess players among the “Borovikovs and Yakemenkos” - only the mockery of school hooligans “state of emergency on a regional scale” - that’s their destiny. There are practically no decent and generous, cultured and great people there, as Anatoly Evgenievich Karpov and Garry Kimovich Kasparov will undoubtedly remain in our memory.
It is not surprising that the match was presented so short in the state media. It is not customary in our society to conduct discussion and dialogue even chessboard, and politicians - chess players have become completely outcasts, in "parliaments" - more gymnasts and figure skaters sit. “Body gymnastics” is not equal to “Mind games”, because in Russia they value more those who know how to bend over, rather than, thinking about it, playing by the rules!
I was least interested in the sports side of this match, although I myself trained professionally and played in tournaments, I have a rank. Still, without training, the “brain rusts”, the sharpness of chess thinking becomes dull, when Anatoly Evgenievich is already 58, and Garry Kimovich is 46, and the 12th and 13th world champions have practically “given up” with big-time sports and do not participate in major tournaments .
Under the influence of the two “Ks,” I myself began to play chess, regularly watching “Chess School” on TV (yes, yes, instead of “House-2”, then “the whole country” was focused on the names of Karpov, Kasparov, Tal, Smyslov, Cheburdanidze, Gabrindashvili, etc.), - a taste for the game was formed, for thinking, for analytics, for sharp openings and defenses, endgames and gambits, with an accepted or postponed sacrifice of a piece, what and when can be sacrificed, in the name of what, - was vaccinated already then. It is painful and insulting that chess is still not taught in our schools. I believe that this subject deserves all attention, because it trains logical and spatial thinking, and speed of reaction, preventing one from becoming an “obedient zombie”, an adherent of some primitive political parties, such as “Nashists” or “Young Guards”. Those who are familiar with chess will almost never have problems with making a choice and a decent way out of the “worst situation”; after analyzing the “position”, playing even under time pressure, they will calculate positive options and find salvation!
P.S. ...
Anatoly Karpov: “I have nothing to share with Kasparov. Despite some differences in the vision of the future of our country, I respect him very much as a chess player and world champion.”
Garry Kasparov: "Besides the most important enemy in my sports career"Karpov is my great teacher, from whom I learned the most, both in sports and in life."
As for sports result, then he won... Kasparov... The Great chess confrontation the last century has returned, sprinkling with life-giving moisture, the hypocritical and empty “zeros” (everyone understands to the extent of their depravity, but this is a fact, in all SMS), where there are NO MIND GAMES, but there is only a pathetic semblance of a dishonest “game for millions”. And this is the main thing, it is indicative - how the game according to the rules has been lowered and humiliated today by small gray people with legal diplomas from St. Petersburg lawyers!
FOR REFERENCE, match statistics, under the cut...
Without taking into account the match that ended (9:3 in favor of Kasparov), where the grandmasters played four games of rapid chess with a time control of 25 minutes + five seconds and eight blitz games of five minutes + two seconds each, the statistics of the meetings between them are as follows: (according to - http://svpressa.ru/sport/article/14511):
"- Karpov and Kasparov played 144 games between themselves.
The first match between Karpov and Kasparov took place in 1984 in London, but was not completed. With the score 5:3 in favor of Karpov, the FIDE President stopped him because large quantity draws (40 out of 48 games) - without announcing the winner.
The chess players met for the second time in 1985 in Moscow, then Kasparov won, becoming the 13th world champion, the youngest in history.
In 1986, in a rematch held in London and Leningrad, Kasparov defended his championship title. A year later, in Seville (Spain), Karpov tried to regain his lost positions. The 12th world champion was winning by one point before the final game of the match. However, Kasparov managed to win and equalize the score - 12:12. Until now, in the history of the fight for the world crown, there has not been a case when the decisive games were won by those behind in the score.
Garry Kasparov won his third victory over Karpov in 1990 in Lyon (France).
In the 90s two chess king Kasparov and Karpov continued to play with each other, but not in championship matches, but in various official and unofficial tournaments.
The last time chess players played each other was in 2002.
The current meetings of two legendary chess players are called a nostalgic tour of places of military glory. In the next six months, Karpov and Kasparov will play exhibition matches in all countries where championship fights were held - in Spain, Russia, England, France and the USA."