Anatoly Karpov: 10 Years as World Chess Champion and the Kasparov Rivalry

Anatoly Karpov became World Chess Champion in 1975 without playing a single championship game. Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title under FIDE’s match conditions and was stripped of it. Karpov, who had qualified as challenger through the Candidates cycle, was awarded the title by default. He was 23 years old.

What followed was 10 years of championship dominance. Karpov defended the title six times between 1978 and 1985, won tournaments at a rate that rivals any period in chess history, and developed a positional style so precise that it reshaped how serious players thought about accumulating small advantages. He lost the title to Garry Kasparov in 1985.

Born May 23, 1951, Zlatoust, USSR

Karpov learned chess at four. He was a prodigy in the Soviet chess system, becoming a grandmaster at 19, and by the early 1970s was widely regarded as the most talented player below Fischer. His 1974 Candidates Final win against Viktor Korchnoi earned him the title match opportunity Fischer ultimately declined.

The Soviet chess program was systematic and intensive. Players were supported by seconds, trained with coaches, and studied opponents’ games comprehensively. Karpov benefited from this system and embodied it: meticulous preparation, no weaknesses in any phase of the game, minimal risk-taking.

Playing style

Karpov’s signature was the accumulation of minor positional advantages. He didn’t attack aggressively or sacrifice pieces for tactical complications. He maneuvered pieces to optimal squares, applied pressure to small weaknesses, created favorable pawn structures, and ground opponents down in endgames. Opponents often described losing to Karpov as watching your position gradually suffocate.

His endgame technique was exceptional even by championship standards. He converted drawn-looking positions more consistently than any predecessor since Capablanca. His Caro-Kann Defense games are often cited as models. The opening suits his style because it produces the solid structures his technique was built for.

The Kasparov matches

Karpov and Kasparov played five World Chess Championship matches between 1984 and 1990: more championship matches than any other pairing in history.

1984 match (Moscow): The format was first to six wins, draws not counting. The match lasted 48 games: the longest in championship history. Karpov led 5–3 in wins with 40 draws after 48 games. FIDE President Campomanes suspended the match citing player fatigue. Kasparov, who had won three of the last four decisive games, objected publicly. No result was declared.

1985 match (Moscow): New format: 24 games, standard scoring. Kasparov won 13–11, becoming world champion at 22. Karpov had held the title for 10 years.

1986, 1987, 1990: Three more title matches, Karpov won two and drew one, failed in every attempt to reclaim the title. The rivalry was genuine and close; the total match score across all five championships was nearly even in games played.

After 1990, Karpov held the FIDE world title separately from 1993 to 1999 during the period when Kasparov left FIDE. He lost that title to Anand in 1998 in a FIDE knockout championship.

Legacy

Karpov won over 160 first-place finishes in major tournaments, a record that has never been approached. His peak FIDE rating was 2780 in 1994. He played over 900 rated games at the super-GM level and maintained a positive score against nearly every opponent he faced.

The historical debate about his place relative to Kasparov is complicated by the 1984 match suspension. If that match had been completed under its original format, the championship history looks different. What isn’t contested: for the decade before Kasparov, Karpov was the strongest player in the world by any available measure.

Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors (affiliate) is the most detailed analytical record of the championship era. Kasparov annotates Karpov’s games with notable honesty about what he was doing right.

Frequently asked questions

How did Karpov become world chess champion? Bobby Fischer forfeited his title in 1975 rather than play under FIDE’s match conditions. Karpov, who had qualified through the Candidates cycle, was awarded the championship by default at 23.

How many world championship matches did Karpov play against Kasparov? Five: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1990. Kasparov won the title in 1985 and successfully defended it in 1986, 1987, and 1990.

What was Karpov’s playing style? Positional and technical. He accumulated small advantages (better pawn structure, optimal piece placement, pressure on minor weaknesses) and converted them in endgames. He avoided tactical complications and risk, grinding opponents down methodically.

What is Karpov’s peak FIDE rating? 2780 in 1994. This was achieved after his championship years, demonstrating that his ability remained elite even as Kasparov dominated.

Sources

• FIDE Rating Profile: Anatoly Karpov
• Karpov, Anatoly. My Best Games. Batsford, 1996.
• Kasparov, Garry. My Great Predecessors, Part 1. Everyman Chess, 2003. (affiliate)
• Silman, Jeremy. How to Reassess Your Chess. Siles Press, 4th ed. 2010. (affiliate)

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, DiscussChess earns from qualifying purchases.