Karpov-Kasparov: Grudge Match in Valencia

8/30/2009 – They played each other in five big World Championship matches, most famously in 1984, when their first encounter was abandoned after 48 games without a final decision. Now to mark the 25th anniversary Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov will play a 12-game match – four rapid and eight blitz games – from 21 to 24 September, 2009, in Valencia, Spain. Details and statistics.

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Karpov-Kasparov: the Grudge Match?

For those unaware, it has recently been announced that Kasparov and Karpov will renew their rivalry with a new twelve-game match, consisting of four rapid games and eight blitz games. This is meant to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their first world championship match in 1984, played in the Hall of Columns of the Trade Union House in Moscow. Though FIDE President Florencio Campomanes may have made the controversial decision to pull the plug on that encounter, leaving it the only such match that went undecided, do not expect a similar result on this anniversary.


Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov in their

Far from being the bitter adversaries you might expect, these players are on friendly terms, though we can be sure all affection will temporarily be forgotten once blood starts to spill on the battlefield. If you hope to witness these living legends duke it out, perhaps for the last time, book a ticket to Valencia, Spain for September 21st-24th.

In honour of the occasion, we have compiled some head-to-head statistics, with thanks going to Jeff Sonas for his assistance.

Name

Garry Kasparov

Anatoly Karpov

Age

46

58

Born

13/04/1963

23/05/1951

Birthplace

Baku, Azerbaijan, USSR  

Zlatoust, USSR

GM

1980

1970

Classical World Champion

1985-2000 (ages 22-37)

1975-1985 (ages 24-34)

Blitz Tournament Score

1.5

1.5

Match Score

73

71

Rapid Match Score

1.5

2.5

Rapid Tournament Score

2.5

1.5

Exhibition Game (1975)

0

1

Tournament Score

16

9

Lifetime Score

94.5

86.5

Lifetime Score at Tournament T/C

89

80

Lifetime Score at Blitz/Rapid T/C

5.5

5.5

Lifetime Match Score*

73

71

Lifetime Blitz/Rapid Match Score*

1.5

2.5

Blitz/Rapid Score in the last ten years 

3

4

*Only match games are tabulated here, with tournament encounters not counting.

World Championship matches

Place
Year
Kasparov
Karpov
Moscow I
1984
23.0
25.0*
Moscow II
1985
13.0
11.0
London, Leningrad
1986
12.5
11.5
Sevilla
1987
12.0
12.0
New York, Lxyon
1990
12.5
11.5

* match abandoned after 48 games
** Kasparov retained his title

Rating development


Comparison of rating progression by year


Comparison of rating progression by age

For those noting a gap for Kasparov in the graphs above, you will recall he was omitted from the 1994 FIDE rating list, after playing his World Championship match with Nigel Short.

We can also provide a comparison of unofficial rapid ratings between Kasparov and Karpov, as follows (with credit going to Stefan Fischl for providing the statistics):

Rapid chess

Kasparov

Karpov

2003

2783

2760

2003.5

2783

2766

2004

2798

2720

2004.5

2787

2698

2005

2787

2676

2005.5

2787

2663

2006.5

 

2664

2007

 

2647

2007.5

 

2655

2008

 

2685

2008.5

 

2687

2009

 

2668

With Kasparov suffering defeat at the hands of Karpov in their most recent rapid match, played in 2002 in New York, you can be sure he will be looking to set the record straight on his abilities at faster time controls. If the Credit Suisse Zurich Blitz of 2006 is any indication, however, the match in September should be hotly contested by both sides. Enjoy the show!


Kasparov (left) and Karpov (right), with 14th World Champion Vladimir Kramnik...


... and with the reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand last week in Zurich

Official video for the Kasparov-Karpov match in Valencia 2009 (Spanish)