About three weeks ago it was reported that former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov had an accident in Moscow and was hospitalised. Latest news reports have indicated that Karpov, the 12th world champion, is on the road to recovery, and chess players are happy to learn of such an encouraging development.
Readers would recall it was Karpov who was crowned world champion to succeed the legendary Bobby Fischer in 1975. Fischer had refused to defend his title in 1975 and, therefore, the title went to his challenger. Fischer subsequently disappeared from chess.
In 1978, Karpov went on to defend his title against his new Russian challenger Victor Korchnoi which he did successfully. The match was exciting as it was brilliant. It was also filled with intrigue. Korchnoi had defected from the Soviet Union while Karpov was the loyalist world champion, a Soviet hero. Karpov was leading 5 games to 2 when Korchnoi staged a sensational comeback. The first person to win six games would be declared the winner, draws not counting. With the score at 5=5 Karpov took the 32nd game handsomely to demonstrate he was a worthwhile contender and champion.
In 1981, during the return match, Karpov won in very decisive fashion. Afterward, Karpov played some exquisite games with former world champion Garry Kasparov which, to this day, are a chess player’s delight. The column wishes Karpov a full and speedy recovery.
Chess game
White: Anatoly Karpov
Black: Victor Korchnoi
Event: 1978 World Chess Championship, Baguio, Philippines
Type of Game: Spanish Game, St Petersburg Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Bf5 12. Nb3 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Nxc5 exf3 17. Bf4 Qxd1 18. Raxd1 Nd8 19. Rd7 Ne6 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Be3 Rac8 22. Rfd1 Be4 23. Bc5 Rfe8 24. R7d4 Bd5 25. b3 a5 26. Kh2 Ra8 27. Kg3 Ra6 28. h4 Rc6 29. Rxd5 exd5 30. Rxd5 Rce6 31. Bd4 c6 32. Rc5 Rf8 33. a4 bxa4 34. bxa4 g6 35. Rxa5 Ree8 36. Ra7 Rf7 37. Ra6 Rc7 38. Bc5 Rcc8 39. Bd6 Ra8 40. Rxc6 Rxa4 41. Kxf3 h5 42. gxh5 gxh5 43. c4 Ra7 44. Rb6 Kf7 45. c5 Ra4 46. c6 Ke6 47. c7 Kd7 48. Rb8 Rc8 49. Ke3 Rxh4 50. e6+. 1-0. Black resigns.
