Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov Анатолий Карпов | |
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Party List | |
Assumed office 21 December 2011 | |
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Political party | United Russia |
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (Russian: Анатолий Евгеньевич Карпов, IPA:
Karpov's chess tournament successes include over 160 first-place finishes.[1] He had a peak Elo rating of 2780, and his 102 total months at world number one is the fourth-longest of all time, behind Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Emanuel Lasker.
Karpov is also an elected Member of the State Duma in Russia. Since 2006, he has chaired the Commission for Ecological Safety and Environmental Protection of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, and since 2007, he has been a member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defence.[2]
Early life
Karpov was born into a
Karpov acknowledged that his understanding of chess theory was very confused at that time, and later wrote that the homework Botvinnik assigned greatly helped him, since it required that he consult chess books and work diligently.[7] Karpov improved so quickly under Botvinnik's tutelage that he became the youngest Soviet master in history at the age of fifteen in 1966; this tied the record established by Boris Spassky in 1952.[8][9]
Career
Young master
Karpov finished first in his first international tournament, in
In 1969, Karpov became the first Soviet player since Spassky (1955) to win the
Grandmaster
Karpov won the 1971 Alekhine Memorial tournament in Moscow (jointly with Leonid Stein), ahead of a star-studded field, for his first significant adult victory.[18] His Elo rating shot from 2540 in 1971 to 2660 in 1973,[19] during which he shared second place in the 1973 Soviet championship, one point behind Spassky,[20] and qualified for the Leningrad Interzonal.[21]
Candidate
Karpov's world junior championship qualified him for one of the two
Karpov defeated Lev Polugaevsky by the score of +3=5 in the first Candidates' match, earning the right to face former champion Boris Spassky in the semifinal round. Karpov was on record saying that he believed Spassky would easily beat him and win the Candidates' cycle to face Fischer, and that he (Karpov) would win the following Candidates' cycle in 1977. Spassky won the first game as Black in good style, but tenacious, aggressive play from Karpov secured him overall victory by +4−1=6.
The Candidates' final was played in Moscow with
Match with Fischer in 1975
Though a world championship match between Karpov and Fischer was highly anticipated, those hopes were never realised. Fischer not only insisted that the match be the first to ten wins (draws not counting), but also that the champion retain the crown if the score was tied 9–9. FIDE, the International Chess Federation, refused to allow this proviso, and gave both players a deadline of April 1, 1975, to agree to play the match under the FIDE-approved rules.[25] When Fischer did not agree, FIDE President Max Euwe declared on April 3, 1975, that Fischer had forfeited his title and Karpov was the new World Champion.[26] Karpov later attempted to set up another match with Fischer, but the negotiations fell through. This thrust the young Karpov into the role of World Champion without having faced the reigning champion.
Garry Kasparov argued that Karpov would have had good chances because he had beaten Spassky convincingly and was a new breed of tough professional, and indeed had higher quality games, while Fischer had been inactive for three years.[27] This view is echoed by Karpov himself.[28] Spassky thought that Fischer would have won in 1975, but Karpov would have qualified again and beaten Fischer in 1978.[29]
Karpov has said that if he had had the opportunity to play Fischer for the championship in his twenties, he could have been a much better player as a result.[30]
World champion
Determined to prove himself a legitimate champion, Karpov participated in nearly every major tournament for the next ten years. He convincingly won the Milan tournament in 1975, and captured his first of three Soviet titles in 1976. He created a phenomenal streak of tournament wins against the strongest players in the world. Karpov held the record for most consecutive tournament victories (9) until it was shattered by Garry Kasparov (14). As a result, most chess professionals soon agreed that Karpov was a legitimate world champion.[31]
In 1978, Karpov's first title defence was against Viktor Korchnoi, the opponent he had defeated in the 1973–75 Candidates' cycle; the match was played at Baguio, Philippines, with the winner needing six victories. As in 1974, Karpov took an early lead, winning the eighth game after seven draws to open the match. When the score was +5−2=20 in Karpov's favour, Korchnoi staged a comeback, and won three of the next four games to draw level with Karpov. Karpov then won the very next game to retain the title (+6−5=21).[32]
Three years later, Korchnoi reemerged as the Candidates' winner against German finalist Robert Hübner to challenge Karpov in Merano, Italy. Karpov handily won this match, 11–7 (+6−2=10), in what is remembered as the "Massacre in Merano".
Karpov's tournament career reached a peak at the
To illustrate Karpov's dominance over his peers as champion, his score was +13−1=22 versus Spassky, +8=19 versus Robert Hübner, +12−1=29 versus Ulf Andersson, +3−1=10 versus Vasily Smyslov, +1=19 versus Mikhail Tal, +19-7=23 versus Ljubomir Ljubojević.[33]
Rivalry with Kasparov
Karpov had cemented his position as the world's best player and world champion by the time
A rematch was set for later in 1985, also in Moscow. The events of the so-called Marathon Match forced FIDE to return to the previous format, with a match limited to 24 games (with Karpov remaining champion if the match finished 12–12). Karpov needed to win the final game to draw the match and retain his title, but lost, surrendering the title to his opponent. The final score was 13–11 (+3−5=16) in favour of Kasparov.
Karpov remained a formidable opponent (and the world No. 2) until the mid-1990s. He fought Kasparov in three more world championship matches in 1986 (held in London and Leningrad), 1987 (in Seville), and 1990 (in New York City and Lyon). All three matches were extremely close: the scores were 11½–12½ (+4−5=15), 12–12 (+4−4=16), and 11½–12½ (+3−4=17). In all three matches, Karpov had winning chances up to the last games. The ending of the 1987 Seville match was particularly dramatic. Karpov won the 23rd game when Kasparov miscalculated a combination. In the final game, needing only a draw to win the title, Karpov cracked under time pressure at the end of the first session of play, missed a variation leading to an almost forced draw, and allowed Kasparov to adjourn the game with an extra pawn. After a further mistake in the second session, Karpov was slowly ground down and resigned on move 64, ending the match and allowing Kasparov to keep the title.[citation needed]
In their five world championship matches, Karpov scored 19 wins, 21 losses, and 104 draws in 144 games.[37] Overall, Karpov played five matches against Kasparov for the title from 1984 to 1990 without ever defeating him in a match.
According to chessgames.com, as of 2022, in Classical games, Kasparov leads Karpov with 28 wins, 20 losses, and 119 draws in 167 games. Including rapid/exhibition games, Kasparov leads Karpov with 39 wins, 25 losses, and 129 draws in 193 games.[38]FIDE champion again (1993–1999)
In 1992, Karpov lost a Candidates Match against Nigel Short. But in the World Chess Championship 1993, Karpov reacquired the FIDE World Champion title when Kasparov and Short split from FIDE. Karpov defeated Timman – the loser of the Candidates' final against Short.
The next major meeting of Kasparov and Karpov was the 1994
Karpov defended his FIDE title against the rising star Gata Kamsky (+6−3=9) in 1996. In 1998, FIDE largely scrapped the old system of Candidates' Matches, instead having a large knockout event in which a large number of players contested short matches against each other over just a few weeks. In the first of these events, the FIDE World Chess Championship 1998, champion Karpov was seeded straight into the final, defeating Viswanathan Anand (+2−2=2, rapid tiebreak 2–0). In the subsequent cycle, the format was changed, with the champion having to qualify. Karpov refused to defend his title, and ceased to be FIDE World Champion after the FIDE World Chess Championship 1999.[citation needed]
Towards retirement
Karpov's classical tournament play has been seriously limited since 1997, since he prefers to be more involved in Russian politics. He had been a member of the Supreme Soviet Commission for Foreign Affairs and the president of the Soviet Peace Fund before the Soviet Union dissolved. In addition, he has been involved in several disputes with FIDE.[40] In the September 2009 FIDE rating list, he dropped out of the world's Top 100 for the first time.
Karpov usually limits his play to exhibition events, and has revamped his style to specialize in rapid chess. In 2002, he won a match against Kasparov, defeating him in a rapid time control match 2½–1½. In 2006, he tied for first with Kasparov in a blitz tournament, ahead of Korchnoi and Judit Polgár.[41]
Karpov and Kasparov played a mixed 12-game match from September 21–24, 2009, in
Karpov played a match against Yasser Seirawan in 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri, an important center of the North American chess scene, winning 8–6 (+5−3=6).[43]
In November 2012, he won the Cap d'Agde rapid tournament that bears his name (Anatoly Karpov Trophy), beating Vasyl Ivanchuk (ranked 9th in the October 2012 FIDE world rankings) in the final.
Professional and political career after retirement from chess
In 2003, Karpov opened his first American chess school in Lindsborg, Kansas.[44] On March 2, 2022, the school announced a name change to International School of Chess of the Midwest due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[45]
Karpov has been a member of the
Karpov expressed support of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, and accused Europe of trying to demonize Putin.[49] In August 2019, Maxim Dlugy said that Karpov had been waiting since March for the approval of a non-immigrant visa to the United States, despite frequently visiting the country since 1972. Karpov had been scheduled to teach a summer camp at the Chess Max Academy. Dlugy said that Karpov had been questioned at the US embassy in Moscow about whether he planned to communicate with American politicians.[50] Karpov was among the Russian State Duma members placed under sanctions by the EU and UK during the Russo-Ukrainian War.[51][52] In March 2022, after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FIDE Council suspended Karpov's title of FIDE Ambassador for Life.[53]
In November 2022, Karpov was placed in an induced coma after receiving a head injury.[54] Karpov's daughter Sofia and the Russian Chess Federation said that he had accidentally fallen.[55] Karpov made a full recovery from the injury.[56]
Candidate for FIDE presidency
In March 2010, Karpov announced that he would be a candidate for the presidency of FIDE. The election took place in September 2010 at the 39th Chess Olympiad.[57] In May, a fundraising event took place in New York with the participation of Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen, who both supported his bid and campaigned for him.[58] Nigel Short also supported Karpov's candidacy. On September 29, 2010, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was reelected as president of FIDE, 95 votes to 55.[59]
Style
Karpov's "boa constrictor"[60][61] playing style is solidly positional, taking minimal risks but reacting mercilessly to the slightest error by his opponent. As a result, he is often compared to José Raúl Capablanca, the third world champion.[62] Karpov himself describes his style as follows:
Let us say the game may be continued in two ways: one of them is a beautiful tactical blow that gives rise to variations that don't yield to precise calculations; the other is clear positional pressure that leads to an endgame with microscopic chances of victory.... I would choose [the latter] without thinking twice. If the opponent offers keen play I don't object; but in such cases I get less satisfaction, even if I win, than from a game conducted according to all the rules of strategy with its ruthless logic.[63]
Notable games
- Viktor Korchnoi vs. Anatoly Karpov, Moscow 1973 Karpov sacrifices a pawn for a strong center and queenside attack.
- Anatoly Karpov vs. Gyula Sax, Linares 1983 Karpov sacrifices for an attack that wins the game 20 moves later, after another spectacular sacrifice from Karpov and counter-sacrifice from Sax. It won the tournament's first brilliancy prize. This was not the first time Karpov used the sharp Keres Attack (6.g4) – see his win in Anatoly Karpov vs. Vlastimil Hort, Alekhine Memorial Tournament, Moscow 1971.
- Anatoly Karpov vs. Veselin Topalov, Dos Hermanas 1994 This game features a sham sacrifice of two pieces, which Karpov regains with a forcing variation, culminating in the win of an exchange with a technically won endgame.
Hobbies
Karpov's extensive stamp collection of
Honours and awards
- Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3rd class (2001) – for outstanding contribution to the implementation of charitable programmes, the strengthening of peace and friendship between the peoples
- Order of Friendship (2011) – for his great contribution to strengthening peace and friendship between peoples and productive social activities
- Order of Lenin (1981)
- Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1978)
- Order of Merit, 2nd class (Ukraine) (November 13, 2006) – for his contribution to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster
- Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, 2nd class (1996)
- Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 2nd class (2001)
- Medal "For outstanding contribution to the Collector business in Russia"
- Honorary member of the Soviet Philately Society (1979)
- Diploma of the State Duma of the Russian Federation No. 1
- Order "For outstanding achievements in sport" (Republic of Cuba)
- Medal of Tsiolkovsky Cosmonautics Federation of Russia
- Medal "For Strengthening the penal system", 1st and 2nd class
- Breastplate of the 1st degree of the Interior Ministry
- International Association of Chess Press, 9 times voted the best chess player of the year and awarded the "Chess Oscar"
- Order of Saint Nestor the Chronicler, 1st class
- 90414 Karpov is named after Karpov[66]
- Anatoly Karpov International Chess Tournament, an annual Poikovsky, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia since 2000[67]
Books
Karpov has authored or co-authored several books, most of which have been translated into English.
- Karpov, A.E. Ninth vertical. 1978. Moscow: Molodaya Gvardia.
- Karpov, Anatoly; ISBN 0-0802-3119-5.
- Karpov, Anatoly (1988). The Open Game in Action. ISBN 978-0713460964.
- Karpov, Anatoly (1988). The Semi-Open Game in Action. ISBN 978-0020218012.
- Karpov, Anatoly (1990). The Closed Openings in Action. ISBN 978-0020339854.
- Karpov, Anatoly (1990). The Semi-Closed Openings in Action. Collier/MacMillan. ISBN 978-0020218050.
- Karpov, Anatoly (1990). Karpov on Karpov: Memoirs of a chess world champion. Liberty Publishing. ISBN 0-689-12060-5. (also a 1992 Simon & Schusteredition)
- Karpov, Anatoly (1992). Beating the Grünfeld. Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-6468-9.
- Karpov, Anatoly (2006). Caro-Kann Defence: Advance Variation and Gambit System. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-9010-1.
- Karpov, Anatoly (2007). My Best Games. Edition Olms. ISBN 978-3-2830-1002-7.
- Karpov, Anatoly; ISBN 978-0-923891-97-8.
- Karpov, Anatoly (2007). How To Play The English Opening. Batsford. ISBN 978-0-7134-9065-7.
References
- ^ van Reem, Eric (August 11, 2005). "Karpov, Kortchnoi win Unzicker Gala". ChessBase. Retrieved July 2, 2009. In his 1994 book My Best Games, Karpov says he played some 200 tournaments and matches, and won more than 100.
- ^ "Anatoly Karpov elected as Deputy Secretary General of the Assembly". Official site of the Eurasian Peoples' Assembly. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
- ^ How Karpov Wins, p. xiii
- ^ Deep Blue: An Artificial Intelligence Milestonebats, p. 44
- Chess Life & Review. Vol. XXIII, no. 10. p. 539.
- ^ Arrabal, Fernando (March 1, 1992). "Getting It Off His Chess". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ISBN 0-689-12060-5.
- ^ Editorial Staff (April 15, 2022). "Boris Spassky - The Russian Chess Grandmaster Legend - Chess Player Profile". The Chess Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "ANATOLY KARPOV". Федерация шахмат России. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "Junior Meet". Chess Review. Vol. 36, no. 4. April 1968. p. 99.
The Niemeyer International Junior Tournament in Groningen, Holland, went to Karpov of the Soviet Union with 5½–1½, half a point ahead of Jocha of Hungary.
- ^ "EU-ch U18 f-A 6768 1967". 365Chess.com. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Arrabal, Fernando (March 1, 1992). "Getting It Off His Chess". The NY Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
- ^ "Wch U20 fin-A". 365Chess.com. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Trifunovich, Petar (October 1969). "Tenth Junior World Championship. Stockholm, August 10 – 29, 1969". Chess Review. Vol. 37, no. 10. p. 315.
- ^ "Caracas 1970". 365Chess.com. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Kavalek, Lubosh (September 1970). "Don't Walk – Run". Chess Life & Review. Vol. XXV, no. 9. p. 483.
Anatoli Karpov is a new International Grandmaster. Playing "waiting chess" he just made the grandmaster norm.
- ^ Cramer, Fred (January 1971). "FIDE'S 41st -and Greatest -Congress". Chess Life & Review. Vol. XXVI, no. 1. p. 24.
The Congress awarded IGM titles to Anatoly Karpov and Buchuti Gurgenldze of the USSR and to Walter Browne of Australia.
- ^ "Alekhine mem 1971". www.365chess.com.
- ^ "FIDE rating history: Karpov, Anatoly".
- ^ "41st Soviet Chess Championship, Moscow 1973". www.olimpbase.org.
- ^ "Leningrad Interzonal 1973". www.365chess.com.
- ^ Zonal Qualifiers 1972-1975, Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
- ^ Cramer, Fred (January 1973). "The 1973 Interzonals". Chess Life & Review. Vol. XXVIII, no. 1. p. 34.
- ^ chessgames.com, Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates Final (1974)
- ^ Hochberg, Burt (May 1975). "News & Views". Chess Life and Review. Newburgh, New York: United States Chess Federation.
- ISBN 0-553-02876-6.
- ^ Kasparov, My Great Predecessors, part IV: Fischer, p. 474
- ^ "Karpov on Fischer, Korchnoi, Kasparov and the chess world today". Chessbase. February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
- ^ In an article (PDF) published in 2004 on the Chesscafe website Susan Polgar wrote: "I spoke to Boris Spassky about this same issue and he believes that Bobby would have won in 1975, but that Anatoly would have won the rematch."
- ^ ""Каспаров получил от меня 48 бесплатных уроков". Большое интервью Карпова". sport-express.ru (in Russian). May 21, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- ISBN 978-1857443851.
- ^ chessgames.com, Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978
- ^ a b chessgames.com, Anatoly Karpov
- ^ "Karpov at 70: "My great blunder was I agreed to hold the match with Kasparov in the Soviet Union"". chess24.com. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ 1984 Karpov–Kasparov Title Match Highlights Mark Weeks' Chess Pages
- ^ "Karpov vs Kasparov, 1984-85".
- ^ Weeks, Mark. "World Chess Championship, The Great Rivalries, Kasparov - Karpov". The Great Rivalries. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ "Listing of games played between Karpov and Kasparov". chessgames.com.
- ^ "Facts and figures: Magnus Carlsen's performance in Nanjing". ChessBase. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- ^ "Karpov may sue over LV tourney - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. July 22, 1999. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ "The Credit Suisse Blitz – in pictures". ChessBase. August 27, 2006. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
- ^ "Kasparov and Karpov to play 12 games match in Valencia". Chessdom. Archived from the original on July 12, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
- ^ "Karpov, Seirawan Head to Rapid Play in Saint Louis". St Louis Chess Club. June 12, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- ^ "Anatoly Karpov International School of Chess". www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "International School of Chess of the Midwest". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Карпов Анатолий Евгеньевич". Государственная Дума.
- ^ "Stories from the region". www.unicef.org. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "(2 чтение) ФЗ №186614-6 "О мерах воздействия на лиц, причастных к нарушению основополагающих прав и свобод человека, прав и свобод граждан РФ" – Система анализа результатов голосований на заседаниях Государственной Думы". vote.duma.gov.ru. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ Кожемякин, Владимир (June 23, 2015). "Анатолий Карпов: Европа пытается демонизировать Путина, а не Россию". www.aif.ru. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Russian chess legend Anatoly Karpov unable to get U.S. visa, friend says". Reuters. August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ "Анатолий Карпов попадает под санкции Европейского союза". chess-news.ru. February 23, 2022. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
- ^ "CONSOLIDATED LIST OF FINANCIAL SANCTIONS TARGETS IN THE UK" (PDF). Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "The Official Statement of FIDE Council". www.fide.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ "Breaking News: Anatoly Karpov in hospital with fractured skull". Chess News. October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ "Conflicting claims as Anatoly Karpov enters induced coma: Assault or a domestic accident?". MARCA. October 31, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ "Karpov is back home". November 18, 2022.
- ^ Doggers, Peter (March 2, 2010). "Karpov candidate for FIDE President". Chess Vibes. Archived from the original on March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
- ^ "Big Karpov fund-raiser in New York". ChessBase. May 18, 2010. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Kirsan Ilyumzhinov wins 2010 FIDE elections". Chessdom.com. 2010. Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ Byrne, Robert (September 17, 1980). "Chess:; Revengeful Karpov Presses Like a Cool Boa Constrictor Unsuspected Strength Shown". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ Goodman, David (December 19, 1987). "Karpov A Master Of Willpower, Squeeze Play With AM-World Chess". AP News. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ "Keres Annotates... Two Karpov Wins". Chess Life & Review. Vol. XXVIII, no. 1. January 1973. p. 8.
His general style of play is rather calm, centered on positional considerations and somehow recalling Capablanca's attitudes towards the game.
- ISBN 0192800493. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
- ^ "Belgium collection formed by Anatoly Karpov". David Feldman. 2011. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ "Anatoly Karpov: The Owner of the Unique Stamp Collection". Watch-Clone.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ^ "Kasparov – Karpov Valencia 2009, day 3 LIVE! - Chessdom". tournaments.chessdom.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
- ^ "Background of the tournament". 3rd Karpov International Chess Tournament. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
Further reading
- ISBN 0-486-24512-8.
- Hurst, Sarah (2002). Curse of Kirsan: Adventures in the Chess Underworld. Russell Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-88869-0-156.
- ISBN 978-90-5691-202-4.
- Karolyi, Tibor (2011). Karpov's Strategic Wins 1: The Making of a Champion 1961–1985. ISBN 978-1-906552-41-1.
- Karolyi, Tibor (2011). Karpov's Strategic Wins 2: The Prime Years 1986–2009. Quality Chess. ISBN 978-1-906552-42-8.
- Karpov, Anatoly (2003). Anatoly Karpov's Best Games. ISBN 0-7134-7843-8.
- ISBN 1-85744-404-3.
- ISBN 978-0-19-217534-2.
- ISBN 0-08-024094-1.
External links
- Karpov's official homepage (in Russian)
- Anatoly Karpov chess games at 365Chess.com
- Anatoly Karpov player profile and games at Chessgames.com
- Anatoly Karpov Chess Olympiad record at OlimpBase.org
- Edward Winter, "Books about Korchnoi and Karpov", Chess Notes
- 25 minute video interview with Karpov, OnlineChessLessons.NET, June 19, 2012
- "Anatoly Karpov tells all" (2015 interview by Sport Express, translated by ChessBase): part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4