Anatoly Karpov, double world champion (1975 – 1985 and 1993 –
1999), is one of the leading personalities of the history of chess. In his
Romanian debut he is playing a chess match against GM Andrei Istratescu. The
event is organised by Astral Chess Foundation, Gambit Foundation, Elisabeta
Polihroniade and Sah Campion Chess Club. It is being held at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel Bucharest from March 20th to March 26th.

Karpov arriving in Bucharest
According to the organisers the media attention is overwhelming. "In
Romania, chess has an old and famous tradition, earned by several medals in
Chess Olympics and many gold medals in European and World Junior Championships.
The number of Romanians interested in chess is so big that it is nearly impossible
to find a family that has no member who is a chess player, either amateur or
professional one."
For the first time in Romania, the games are being broadcast live on the
Internet. The chess board and the chess clock were ordered especially for this
event. They allow projection of the game on big screens for the onsite public.
20.03.2005 – Sunday |
14:00h |
Game 1 |
Istratescu-Karpov |
1/2 |
21.03.2005 – Monday |
14:00h |
Game 2 |
Karpov-Istratescu |
1-0 |
22.03.2005 – Tuesday |
14:00h |
Game 3 |
Istratescu-Karpov |
1-0 |
24.03.2005 – Thursday |
14:00h |
Game 4 |
Karpov-Istratescu |
1-0 |
25.03.2005 – Friday |
14:00h |
Game 5 |
Istratescu-Karpov |
0-1 |
25.03.2005 – Friday |
16:00h |
Game 6 |
Karpov-Istratescu |
1-0 |
26.03.2003 – Saturday |
14:00h |
Game 7 |
Istratescu-Karpov |
|
26.03.2003 – Sunday |
16:00h |
Game 8 |
Karpov-Istratescu |
|
Score: Karpov: 4½ – Istratescu: 1½ |
Time controls:
- Games 1 - 4: 40 moves in 1 hour 40 minutes, then 30 minutes
for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move from the
first move.
- Games 5 – 8: whole game in 30 minutes with an increment
of 20 seconds per move from the first move

Karpov and Istratescu during the game

The public following the actions attentively

Postmortem analysis and commentary