World Chess Championship 1990

The World Chess Championship 1990 was held from 8 October to 30 December 1990 New York and Lyon. World Champion Garry Kasparov defeated while his challenger Anatoly Karpov 12 ½: 11 ½.

Qualification

Mode

The challenger of the World Champion was determined in the Candidates Tournament for the knockout system. For the first round of the candidates tournament, the four semi-finalists from the previous cycle ( the World Chess Championship 1987) were set: Artur Yusupov, Andrei Sokolov Jan Timman and Rafael Vaganian. Another nine places were awarded in three Interzonal tournaments on the three top finishers. There was also a free place for the organizer, the Canadian Kevin Spraggett occupied.

These 14 players played in the first round in duels 7 winner. In the second round, former World Champion Anatoly Karpov was added so that the 8 places were complete for the quarter-finals.

Interzonal tournaments

In the interzonal tournaments, each with 16 to 18 participants, qualified the following players:

In Subotica: Gyula Sax, Nigel Short, Jonathan Speelman ( shared 1st to 3rd place )
In Szirák: Valeri Salow, Jóhann Hjartarson (. Shared 1st - 2nd place ) and Lajos Portisch ( shared 3rd-4th place winner in the playoff against John Nunn. )
In Zagreb: Viktor Korchnoi (1st place ) and Jaan Ehlvest and Yasser Seirawan ( shared 2nd-3rd place. )

Candidates tournament

The last sixteen and quarter final were limited to six games; the semi-final was scheduled for 8 games and the final 12 games. In the case of a tie, there was a renewal of 2 parts and, if necessary, further extensions by 2 rapid games with ever shorter time limit.

Second round in 1988

Spraggett - Sokolow 6 ½: 5 ½ N.V.
Hjartarson - Korchnoi 4 ½: 3 ½ N.V.
Portisch - Vaganian 3 ½: 2 ½
Timman - Salow 3 ½: 2 ½
Yusupov - Ehlvest 3 ½: 1 ½
Short - Sax 3 ½: 1 ½
Speelman - Seirawan 4:1

Quarter-finals 1988/89

Speelman - Short 3 ½: 1 ½
Karpov - Hjartarson 3 ½: 1 ½
Timman - Portisch 3 ½: 2 ½
Yusupov - Spraggett 5:4 N.V.

Semi-finals in 1989

Karpov - Yusupov 4 ½: 3 ½
Timman - Speelman 4 ½: 3 ½

Finale 1990

Karpov - Timman 6 ½: 2 ½

Prehistory

From their mutual dislike the two opponents had made no secret of it. Thus appeared shortly before the start of the match in the " mirror " an interview in which she underlined it again. SPIEGEL: Mr. Karpov, how would you behave if you are here with your wife went to Hamburg in a restaurant, all the tables were occupied and were sitting at a table with two free chairs the couple Kasparov: Would you sit down or go to them? Karpov: I can for days to renounce any food intake.

Organization and rules

The match should go over a maximum of 24 games and are prematurely terminated as soon as a player would be uncatchable at least 12 ½ points in the lead or 6 wins would have achieved. The cooling-off period was two and a half hours for the first 40 moves; after interruption then one hour for 16 trains. In the case of a 12:12 Kasparov would retain his title. The prize money should be divided in the ratio 5:3 between winners and losers; in the event of a tie, each would receive half. The first 12 games took place in New York City, the following in Lyon. The main referee acted as early as 1987 the Dutch Geurt Gijssen.

Kasparov did not occur under the flag of the Soviet Union (and not under the flag of the Russian Soviet Republic) but under the white-blue- red flag of Russia.

History of World Cup

Kasparov was already in the second game with a convincing attack in the lead. A spectacular queen sacrifice against two minor pieces in the third game also brought him here in advantage, but according to an inaccuracy in the sealed move Kasparov Karpov was able to keep the game is drawn. In the fourth game Kasparov came once more vehemently, but in the end had to be glad to be able to escape into perpetual check.

The following games were a little quieter. A huge flap of the world champion Karpov brought in the seventh game of the equalizer. There followed a series of eight drawn games. In the 14th game of Kasparov surprised with his choice of opening: The Scottish game had last been used in 1892 in a world championship fight. Also in the 16th game he resorted to Scottish, and after two aborted the world champion managed a study -like win in the 102 train. This was the longest winning play that has ever played in a World Chess Championship.

Karpov countered in the 17th game in which he allowed Kasparov no chance, but in the 18th game refuted Kasparov Karpov of a prepared opening variant and entered again into leadership. In the 19th game of Kasparov was clearly superior when he is just a train before the possible demolition game, totally unexpected draw offered at 39 train - from exhaustion, as he said later. In the 20th game of Kasparov landed another convincing victory attack. A draw in the 22nd game led to 12:10, thus defending the title was secured. In the 23 game Karpov reduced the gap. In the last game Kasparov offered at won position draw and thus secured the victory for 12 ½: 11 ½.

All seven won games were won with the white pieces.

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