It was on in Lyon
On December 31st, 1990, the Ali/Frazier chess rivalry of the 20th century saw its last title bout in Lyon, France, as Garry Kasparov narrowly squeaked by Anatoly Karpov, 12.5 - 11.5 to remain the FIDE world champion. It was their fifth career showdown for the crown, and the two foes would never meet for the world championship again.
Karpov was one of the great prodigies of the 70's and held the world championship from 1975 to 1985. He was initially awarded the world championship by FIDE after then-champion Bobby Fischer refused to play him for the title because FIDE would not meet the eccentric Fischer's laundry list of demands concerning the match.
Kasparov and Karpov first played for the world title in 1984, when Kasparov was only 21 years old. The match ended in controversy when it was stopped by FIDE president Florencio Campomanes after 48 exhausting games. Karpov was ahead 5-3, but Kasparov was surging, having won the 47th and 48th games. As the reason for the stoppage, Campomanes cited the health strain the games had made on the two players, when it was clearly only Karpov, the popular champion, who was suffering from the strain. Most agreed the stoppage was to save Karpov's crown.
Nothing could save him, however, the following year, when Kasparov, then 22, became the youngest FIDE champion ever by beating Karpov 13-11 in a taut contest. Kasparov won another nail-biter, 12.5-11.5, in 1986, and then the two drew, 12-12, in 1987. The '87 match is remembered for its dramatic finish, with Kasparov needing the full point in the last game to retain his title and managing the win on an historic blunder by Karpov.
The two met again for the world championship in 1990, with 12 games held in New York and then the final 12 in Lyon. When they left New York for France, the match was all squared at six points apiece. Kasparov got the decisive win in the 16th game, the margin by which he would retain his title with another 12.5-11.5 victory.
Since that match ended 16 years ago today, these two chess legends have remained fierce rivals, but have never again played for the world title, largely due to the fact that Kasparov broke from FIDE in 1993. In their 235 official matches to date, Kasparov holds the edge at 33 wins, 23 losses, with an amazing 179 draws between them.
Karpov was one of the great prodigies of the 70's and held the world championship from 1975 to 1985. He was initially awarded the world championship by FIDE after then-champion Bobby Fischer refused to play him for the title because FIDE would not meet the eccentric Fischer's laundry list of demands concerning the match.
Kasparov and Karpov first played for the world title in 1984, when Kasparov was only 21 years old. The match ended in controversy when it was stopped by FIDE president Florencio Campomanes after 48 exhausting games. Karpov was ahead 5-3, but Kasparov was surging, having won the 47th and 48th games. As the reason for the stoppage, Campomanes cited the health strain the games had made on the two players, when it was clearly only Karpov, the popular champion, who was suffering from the strain. Most agreed the stoppage was to save Karpov's crown.Nothing could save him, however, the following year, when Kasparov, then 22, became the youngest FIDE champion ever by beating Karpov 13-11 in a taut contest. Kasparov won another nail-biter, 12.5-11.5, in 1986, and then the two drew, 12-12, in 1987. The '87 match is remembered for its dramatic finish, with Kasparov needing the full point in the last game to retain his title and managing the win on an historic blunder by Karpov.
The two met again for the world championship in 1990, with 12 games held in New York and then the final 12 in Lyon. When they left New York for France, the match was all squared at six points apiece. Kasparov got the decisive win in the 16th game, the margin by which he would retain his title with another 12.5-11.5 victory.
Since that match ended 16 years ago today, these two chess legends have remained fierce rivals, but have never again played for the world title, largely due to the fact that Kasparov broke from FIDE in 1993. In their 235 official matches to date, Kasparov holds the edge at 33 wins, 23 losses, with an amazing 179 draws between them.
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