Peter Leko vs Anatoly Karpov in Miskolc

Press release of the organisers

It is a great pleasure for the City of Miskolc to be able to host this year’s most prestigious rapid chess match in the world between two international grandmasters, Anatoly Karpov and Péter Lékó.

Miskolc has the third largest population in Hungary and the people of this City are great lovers of sport and culture. Over the past few decades we have had visits from both European and world stars of long-distance walking, handball, basketball, karate, boxing and speedway. At the same time, Miskolc is a city of music festivals. Miskolc's "Bartók+" International Opera Festival has already become well-established and has acquired an international reputation.

Chess has long-standing traditions in Miskolc; the City has produced multiple-winning teams in national championships, as well as a number of noted players on the international scene. In accordance with our plans of last year – being encouraged by the great success of the Lékó-Adams match – our International Grandmaster is to take on another challenge in Miskolc in the person of one of the most famous chess players in the world, the twelfth world champion and legendary Anatolyj Karpov. It is a further appreciation for us that this extraordinary rapid match will take place in the inspiring National Theater of Miskolc.

Péter Lékó, who is at the moment in the sixth position on the world ranking list, faces the former world champion Anatoly Karpov in a rapid match of eight games. The duel will be the most prestigious chess event in 2006.

Last year'sd match in Miskolc between Peter Lékó and Michael Adams

The last year’s match between Péter Lékó and the English Michael Adams in Miskolc was a resounding success resulted in a draw by 4-4. Both the Hungarian and the international press followed the match with great attention. It can be evaluated as a great success of the event that more than 2.5 million visitors clicked on the homepage of the match.

Top Hungarian GM and world's number six player Peter Leko

In 1994 Péter Lékó became grandmaster and U16 World Chess Champion beating Fisher’s record. In 1999 in Dortmund, as an outstanding triumph, he came first, leaving Vladimir Kramnik, Vishwanathan Anand, Michael Adams and Anatoly Karpov behind him.

He played on first board of the Hungarian Team in the European Championship in Baku, where the team, after 14 unsuccessful years, won a Silver medal. The start of the following year was also great for him. In Budapest he beat Alexander Khalifman, the FIDE World Champion, by 4.5-1.5 in a six-game match sponsored by WFG.

In January 2001 he played a twelve-game rapid match against Vladimir Kramnik. The World Champion was only able to win by a very smally 7-5 margin. The duel was followed by enormous attendance of the world press.

By winning the World Champion candidate’s tournament Lékó scored an important victory and became Kramnik’s official challenger. At the Olympiad in Bled he remained undefeated on board one of the silver medalist Hungarian team. In 2003 he won the super tournament in Linares.

The world championship final organized in Autumn of 2004 in Brissago threw the Hungarian chess fans in fever. After an unluck 7:7 draw, which allowed Kramnik to retain his world championship title, Peter Lékó wen on to take first place at the super tournament of Wijk aan Zee.

The 55-year-old Anatoly Karpov became World Champion by default in 1975, after Bobby Fisher refused to agree the terms FIDE had proposed for the title match. This stigmatized Karpov’s whole career. No other grandmaster won as many tournaments as Karpov. He had to prove his leading role over and over again. Between 1973 and the early 80s he had no real rival. He won the Chess Oscars from 1979-1981, and was still chosen the best player of the year in 1994.

Karpov held his World Champion title till 1985, defended it twice against Viktor Korchnoi (1978, 1981). He played five World Championship matches against his compatriot Garry Kasparov. Their struggle had significant impact on the diplomacy of chess and sports. The first duel was interrupted after 48 games, when Karpov lead by 5:3. The second final took place in Autumn 1985, when Kasparov won and conquered the World Championship title.

The return match next year in London and Leningrad also ended in Kasparov’s favor, with a 12.5-11.5 score. The following match took place in Sevilla, and Kasparov succeeded again by 12:12. The last K-K match was in 1990 in New York and Lyon. Karpov was beaten again, with a 12.5-11.5 score.

In 1993 Kasparov played the World Championship final with Short under the flag of PCA. Karpov, again, had the opportunity to get back his FIDE World Champion title. He did so. Later on he defended his crown against Gata Kamsky and Viswanathan Anand. In 1999 he lost it by default.

During his chess career, Karpov has already played more than 3000 games in various competitions – individual and team, national and international. He was member of the Olympic Champion Soviet national team six times, once of the Team World Champion group and four times of the European Champion team. Karpov has been awarded the Chess Oscar eleven times.

 Schedule of the Lékó-Karpov match

The opening move of the first game will be made by Sándor Káli, the mayor of Miskolc. The opening moves of other games will be made by sponsors. After finishing the second game of each day of play, the two grandmasters will give a short press conference of 10-15 minutes. Location of the match is the National Theatre of Miskolc (1 Déryné str, Miskolc).

Avas Open

As a run-up event to the Lékó-Karpov Chess Match the Avas Open will be staged, between the 25th and 30th of August. The players will be divided in two groups; the tournament will be organized in nine rounds, Swiss system. Full information on the tournament can be found in the attached PDF document or on the website www.chess.hu.

Accommodation for reduced prices during the tournament and the match:

• City Hotel
• Öreg Miskolcz
• Hotel Pannonia
• Várkert Panzió
• Hunguest Hotel Palota Lillafüred

Pictures of Miskolc and the surrounding region

• Official web site