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...