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Sat, February 15, 2025

Kasparov, Karpov and the KGB? Four decades on from the most controversial chess match of all time


Published on 2025-02-15 04:45:35 - CNN
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  • FIDE President Florencio Campomanes announced that he was abandoning the World Chess Championship match between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. For 40 years, the chess world has been debating why he did it.

The article from CNN discusses the historic chess match between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov in 1984-85, which was the longest chess world championship match ever, lasting 144 games over five months. Initially, Karpov, the defending champion, took a commanding lead, but Kasparov mounted a remarkable comeback, narrowing the gap to just one point. The match, held in Moscow, was halted by Florencio Campomanes, the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), due to concerns over the players' health, a decision that remains controversial. This match not only showcased the intense rivalry between the two grandmasters but also highlighted the political and psychological warfare inherent in high-stakes chess, with Kasparov eventually becoming the youngest world champion in 1985 after a rematch. The event is remembered for its dramatic turns, the endurance of the players, and its impact on the sport of chess.

Read the Full CNN Article at:
[ https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/15/sport/kasparov-karpov-1984-85-world-championship-spt-intl/index.html ]