(1041) "NEXT GAME MAY BE DECISIVE FOR TITLE (Kasparov-Karpov London Match) The Khaleej Times - Aug. 03, 1986

This file photo shows Kasparov during the international chess tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan, in April 1980, where he gained the distinction of becoming the youngest Grandmaster at the age of 17.

Kasparov's original challenge of Karpov was in Moscow. From September 10, 1984 to February 9, 1985, and even that was not long enough for a proper finish. The president of the International Chess Federation, Florencio Campomanes of the Philippines, stepped in and annulled the contest after the 48th game.

The second match reverted to the rules in effect from 1951 to 1972 -- a maximum of 24 games were to be played, victory going to the player who amassed six victories or 12 1/2 points.

The specter of delaying tactics for interminable draws was banished.

Perhaps even more important, he had come to respect Karpov's trenchant endgame play and not to be caught flatfooted, as he had been in the 9th game of the first match. Moreover, he had become more at home with Karpov's slow-maneuvering trench warfare.

        of a year.

Kasparov and Karpov have already beaten that record, having played 72 championship match games in a year and two months.

They now have Karpov's return match with which to swell their gargantuan totals.

Leningrad plans to match the prizes, but in any event, Kasparov and Karpov have both donated their prize to the Chernobyl disaster fund in an act of generosity extraordinary among chess competitors.

The match will follow the same format as the last one. The maximum number of games will be 24. And the first player to amass six victories outright of 12 1/2 points wins. Each victory is worth one point, and a draw gives each player half point. In the event of a tie match, Kasparov will retain his title.

The games will be played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in reserve, if needed, for unfinished games. The playing sessions will be from 5pm to 10pm London time with each player allowed 2 and a half hours to complete 40 moves. Each player is permitted three postponements. 

The 3rd game ended in a draw on Friday after 35 moves.

The split decision, the third in succession, was an uneventful affair with Karpov playing white.


Source: The Khaleej Times
               Page 18
               Sunday
               August 03, 1986