A narrowly missed record: Viktor Kortschnoi against the World Champions

by Johannes Fischer
1/7/2024 – During his long career Viktor Kortschnoi (23 March 1931 - 6 June 2016) won against Botvinnik, Smyslov, Tal, Petrosian, Spassky, Fischer, Karpov, Kasparov and Carlsen. He never became World Champion himself, but you might think that "he could beat anyone". But this is just a cliché. For although Kortschnoi played a total of 17 games with classical time control against Anand and Kramnik in the course of his life, he never scored a full point against either of them. | Photo: Kortschnoi at the 1960 Leipzig Chess Olympiad | Photo: Tournament book

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

If he had managed just one victory in these 17 games, Kortschnoi would have won at least one classical chess game against ten of the 17 world champions in chess history, setting yet another record in a chess career that is not short of records.

However, Kortschnoi is still the co-record holder in the category "At least one victory over one of the 17 world champions in a classical game". However, he shares this honour with Paul Keres and Alexander Beliavsky, who, like Kortschnoi, won games with classical time-control against nine world champions during their careers. However, this statistic does not take into account whether these victories were achieved against later, current or former world champions.

For example, Kortschnoi played Magnus Carlsen only once, at the Smartfish Masters in Drammen in 2004, when Carlsen was already a grandmaster but only 14 years old and of course not as strong and experienced as he was later. Considering the age of the two opponents, Kortschnoi, who was 73 at the time, scored an impressive victory, which he, however, probably would not have achieved against an older and more experienced Carlsen.

Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.

Magnus Carlsen 2004 | Photo: Giorgio Gozzi

Carlsen handled the opening imprecisely, came under positional pressure in the middlegame and lost a pawn. Kortschnoi easily won the ensuing rook ending.

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 Be7 8.Be3 c4 9.Ne5 0-0 10.0-0 Be6 11.Nxc4 dxc4 12.d5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bf6 14.Qd2 Bd4 15.Nf4 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 Re8 17.Rfd1 Qf6 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Qd4 Qxd4 20.Rxd4 Bd5 21.Rad1 c3 22.Nxd5 cxd5 23.bxc3 Rxe2 24.Rxd5 g6 25.R5d2 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Rc8 27.Rc2 Rc4 28.Kf1 Kf8 29.Ke2 Ke7 30.Kd3 Ra4 31.Rd2 Ke6 32.c4 Ra3+ 33.Ke4 h5 34.f4 f6 35.Re2 Ra4 36.Kd4+ Kd6 37.Rf2 Ra5 38.Kc3 Kc5 39.Kb3 Ra6 40.Rd2 1–0

Kortschnoi was less fortunate against Vishy Anand (born 1969, World Champion from 2007 to 2013) and Vladimir Kramnik (born 1975, World Champion from 2000 to 2007). Kortschnoi played his first game against Anand in Wijk aan Zee in 1990, the year in which Anand qualified for the Candidates Tournament for the first time at the Interzonal Tournament in Manila at the age of 21 - and this duel ended in a draw after 28 moves without much excitement.

Vishy Anand at the Chess Olympiad Novi Sad 1990 | Source: ChessBase India

But in the six classical games that Anand and Kortschnoi played against each other over the next ten years, until they met for the last time at the tournament in Wijk 2000, exactly a decade after their first duel, Anand clearly dominated with four wins and two draws. The overall score was 5.5-1.5 in favour of Anand, and the result of the blindfold and rapid games between the two was even clearer: 9-1 in favour of Anand (+8, =2).

Anand vs Kortschnoi - Games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.e4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Bd7 10.Nb3 a5 11.Nd2 Bc8 12.Rc1 Nd7 13.Nb3 b6 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bh6 16.f4 Bb7 17.Be3 Nc5 18.b3 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Qd4 Bc6 21.f5 Bg7 22.Qxb6 Qd7 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Bg5 a4 25.Qe3 axb3 26.axb3 Ra2 27.Rf2 Qe6 28.Bf3 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kortschnoj,V2625Anand,V2555½–½1990B38Hoogovens10
Kortschnoj,V2610Anand,V26500–11991D43Tilburg3
Anand,V2650Kortschnoj,V2610½–½1991C13Tilburg10
Anand,V2650Kortschnoj,V26101–01991C63Paris Immopar rapid1
Kortschnoj,V2610Anand,V26500–11991A33Paris Immopar rapid1
Anand,V2670Kortschnoj,V2585½–½1992A05Roquebrune rapid6
Kortschnoj,V2585Anand,V26700–11992E15Roquebrune rapid17
Anand,V2710Kortschnoj,V26051–01993C83Amber-blindfold 02nd7
Kortschnoj,V2605Anand,V27100–11993A29Amber-rapid 02nd7
Kortschnoj,V2625Anand,V27250–11993A26Interzonal-1612
Kortschnoj,V2615Anand,V27150–11994D12Amber-blindfold 03rd6
Anand,V2715Kortschnoj,V26151–01994B19Amber-rapid 03rd6
Anand,V2720Kortschnoj,V2615½–½1994C09PCA/Intel-GP2
Kortschnoj,V2615Anand,V27200–11994B36PCA/Intel-GP2
Anand,V2795Kortschnoj,V26251–01998A34Tilburg Fontys8
Anand,V2781Kortschnoj,V2673½–½1999C12Dos Hermanas 10th7
Anand,V2769Kortschnoj,V26591–02000C13Corus6

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.

From their first meeting at the World Team Championship in Lucerne in 1993 to the tournament in Wijk in 2000, Kortschnoi played a total of ten games with classical time control against Kramnik, but here too Kortschnoi was unable to win a single game: Five wins and five draws gave Kramnik a 7.5-2.5 advantage, and Kramnik also dominated in rapid and blindfold games with 4-1 (+3, =2).

Kramnik vs Kortschnoi - Games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 b6 7.b3 Bb7 8.Bb2 d6 9.e3 e5 10.Be2 c5 11.0-0 Re8 12.Rae1 Ne4 13.Qc2 Ng5 14.Qf5 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nd7 17.d4 Qf6 18.Qxf6 Nxf6 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Rd1 Kf8 21.f3 Re7 22.Rd2 Rd7 23.Rxd7 Nxd7 24.Rd1 Ke7 25.Kf2 f6 26.Ke2 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kramnik,V2710Kortschnoj,V2625½–½1993A17WchT 3rd1.1
Kortschnoj,V2625Kramnik,V27100–11993D43Groningen PCA4
Kramnik,V2710Kortschnoj,V26151–01994E12Amber-blindfold 03rd2
Kortschnoj,V2615Kramnik,V2710½–½1994D43Amber-rapid 03rd2
Kortschnoj,V2635Kramnik,V2730½–½1995D12Horgen11
Kortschnoj,V2635Kramnik,V2765½–½1996E07Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse1.1
Kramnik,V2765Kortschnoj,V26351–01996D26Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse1.2
Kortschnoj,V2635Kramnik,V27650–11996A13Vienna Millenium5
Kramnik,V2765Kortschnoj,V26351–01996D24EU-Cup 12th final1
Kortschnoj,V2625Kramnik,V27800–11998D43Tilburg Fontys9
Kortschnoj,V2673Kramnik,V2751½–½1999E05Dos Hermanas 10th4
Kortschnoj,V2676Kramnik,V2760½–½1999A32FIDE-Wch k.o.3.1
Kramnik,V2760Kortschnoj,V26761–01999D26FIDE-Wch k.o.3.2
Kortschnoj,V2659Kramnik,V2758½–½2000E15Corus11
Kortschnoj,V2643Kramnik,V28020–12001B14Zuerich Kortschnoj-B2

Vladimir Kramnik | Photo: Guido Kohlen

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) how to successfully organise your games strategically, consequently how to keep y

Kortschnoi's best chance of winning one of these 17 games against Kramnik or Anand in classical time control was against Anand at the Tilburg tournament in 1991. Playing with Black, with energetic play Kortschnoi quickly seized the initiative in a French Defense and eventually reached an advantageous but difficult double rook ending, which he, however, failed to win.

Anand, Viswanathan2650½–½Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich2610
Tilburg
1991[Johannes Fischer]
1.e4 Kortschnoj e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6 8.h4 0-0! 9.Qd2 e5! 10.0-0-0 After 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Qxd2+ 12.Bxd2 Bxe5= Black equalises easily. 10...e4 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Ne5 Be6 13.Kb1 c5 14.Bc4 Trying to win a pawn with 14.dxc5 fails after Qc7 15.Qc3 15.Qd6?? Rfd8! 15...Rac8 because Black regains the pawn with an advantage. 14...Qd6 15.Bxe6 Qxe6 16.Qc3 Rac8 17.Qb3 Nd5 18.dxc5 Rxc5 19.Nc4 a6! Giving the rook access to b5. 20.Rd2 20.Ne3? fails to Nc3+! 21.bxc3 Rb5 and Black is winning. 20...Rfc8 21.Ne3 Nc3+ 22.Ka1 Qxb3 23.cxb3 Nd5 24.Kb1 Nxe3 25.fxe3
The endgame is better for Black: His rooks are more active and White's doubled b-pawns damage White's pawn majority on the queenside. 25...h5 26.Rhd1 R8c6 27.Rf1 Rc7 28.b4 Re5 29.Rf4 Kh7 30.Rd4 f5 31.Rf1 Rc6 32.Rd7 Rg6 33.Rxb7 Rxg2 34.Rc7? After this move White gets in serious trouble. Better was 34.a4 e.g. Rd5 35.b5 a5 36.Ka2 Rdd2 37.Rb1 f4 38.exf4 e3 39.Re7 Rd4 40.Rxe3 Rxa4+ 41.Ra3 Rxf4 42.Rxa5 Rxh4 and the endgame should end in a draw. 34...Rd5 35.Rc5 Rdd2 36.Rfxf5 Rxb2+ 37.Kc1 Rxa2 38.Rxh5+ Kg8 39.Kb1 Rab2+ 40.Kc1 Rbe2 41.Rc8+ Kf7 42.Rf5+ Ke6 43.Rf1 Rxe3 44.Rc6+ Ke5 45.Rxa6 Rc3+ 46.Kb1 Rb3+? Black misses a good chance. After 46...e3! Black's passed pawn is very dangerous, e.g. 47.Ra8 e2 48.Re1 Ke4 49.Re8+ Kd3 50.Rd8+ Ke3 51.Kb2 Rc4 52.Kb3 Rcg4 53.b5 Kf2 54.Ra1 R2g3+ 55.Kc2 Re4 56.Kd2 Rgg4 57.b6 Rd4+ 58.Rxd4 Rxd4+ 59.Kc3 Rd1 and Black is winning. 47.Kc1 Rf3 48.Re1 Rc3+ 49.Kb1 Rb3+ 50.Kc1 Rxb4 51.Ra7 Rc4+ 52.Kb1 Rg6 53.Rb7 Rcc6 54.Rb5+ Kf4 55.Rf1+ Kg4 After now 55...Ke3 56.Re1+ Kf3 57.Rf5+ Kg4 58.Re5 White wins the e-pawn and should be able to hold. 56.Re1 Rb6 But not 56...Rc4?? 57.Rg1+ and White is winning. 57.Rxe4+ White won the e-pawn and is no longer in trouble. Kh3 58.Rxb6 Rxb6+ 59.Kc2 Rh6 60.Re7 g6 61.Re6 Kxh4 62.Kd2 Kg3 63.Re3+
½–½

Posthumously, however, Kortschnoi could become the sole record holder in the category "At least one win against a world champion in a game with classical time control" - if a player against whom Kortschnoi won during his career were to become world champion. For example, Fabiano Caruana.

Links

More about Viktor Kortschnoi...

In this video course, experts (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) examine the games of Viktor Korchnoi. Let them show you which openings Korchnoi chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were, or how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame.


Johannes Fischer was born in 1963 in Hamburg and studied English and German literature in Frankfurt. He now lives as a writer and translator in Nürnberg. He is a FIDE-Master and regularly writes for KARL, a German chess magazine focusing on the links between culture and chess. On his own blog he regularly publishes notes on "Film, Literature and Chess".

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.