The spoil of fate. On the summit of the chess classics.
When
M. Euwe, president of FIDE went to Karpov's coronation he said: When I celebrated my 50
th
jubilee, I did not know, that in three days would be born genius of chess -
Karpov!
The
invisible thread ties throw years 5
th
and 12
th
champions
of the world. Anatoly Karpov was born on the 23th of may in the small town Zlatoust.
That's why he got the name "Uralski samotsvet" lately.
He
learned chess at 4 years old and made progress in youth competitions. In 1968
he won unofficial junior's championship of Europe in Groningen and one year later he
became the winner of the official youth championship. After dificult semifinal
he has got 10 from 11!
The
conquest of this title have had the biggest meaning for Anatoly, which is difficult to overestimate. The USSR
always had thought about it very tremble. Boris Spasski was the unique chess prince who became the World Champion lately. Although another winners
did not get these heightes, on the native land of the 10
th
World Champion rembered about it very good.
Karpov's victory preceded to loss of chess crown by the
USSR and the new chess prince became a new hope in fight with transoceanic star. It
was good luck for Karpov that he had got an experienced mentor - GM Semen Furman, a real chess encyclopedia, the outstanding
connoisseur of chess theory. This union became firm and was indissoluble till Furman's decease in 1978. Soon after FIDE decided to admit two last chess princes in interzone tournaments. The paradox was that Swiss Hug divised the last place in
Petropolise, meanwhile Karpov the 1
st
in Leningrad.
Note that Karpov got the victory hardly - Korchnoi was in excellent shape and to be
equivalent with him was not easy. Karpov appreciated his own chances scepticly in
challengers cycle (remember his phrase "this is not my cycle") but played very well. Firstly was defeated L. Polugaevskiy (+3-0=5). The match with B. Spassky
became very interesting. Karpov had been unwell and lost the first game but his friends calmed him that one has to win only 4 games and he just needs to be first.
The final of the match passed with a big advantage of the young grandmaster. When in the 9th duel he drove rival's pieces onto the last horizontal one of the Spasski's admirers noticed: "Boris is arranging pieces for the next game." The result was +4-1=6. Karpov's triumph attracted attention even on
Korchnoi.
The final pretenders match took place in Moscow according to Korchnoi's insisting on. The duel in the
capital was very hard. Karpov made use failure choice of the opening by the rival and already since the second meeting leaded the score. Soon after the break has enlarged to
two points. Korchnoi was fighting like a wounded lion. It was hard for Karpov to stand over in many games but he was demonstrating persist in the defence of quite hopeless
positions.
After the
third Karpov's victory everything seemed to be defined... but Korchnoi had got the second breath and he managed to shorten the break to minimum. Although it was maximum what he could reach. The final result became +3-2=19 in favour of the young grandmaster. Of course Karpov was the spoil of fate. He became the World Champion without match against Fischer. Surely it was a very expercise present.
One can add the meeting with S. Furman, admission to interzonal tournament without trial and Stockholm juniors tournament, which took place where it was necessary.
The unhappy was fate of Andrei Lukin, who was not allowed to participate in junior's championship in Israel.
The new World Champion always should prove that his victory was not by chance. The rights of possessing of the chess crown Karpov had to prove twice more. And he solved the task brilliantly. During 10 years he had won many
tournaments and created lots of chess-masterpieces. In two years there was was not doubt that the crown belongs to Karpov meritly.
Especially
stand matches of Anatoly Karpov for the World championship since they had too much politics and many things which are far from chess for the known reasons... Althought both duels in sport where lucky for Kaprov, but he has
spended many nerves. Perhaps in the future in the duels with more young G.Kasparov this has the meaning.
It's impossible not to recall Korchnoi's statement that if he knew that he still could fight with Karpov, he would get the
victory over Kasparov by the reason of his absence. Probably Karpov could continue his reign on the chess throne if there were no absurd (to say simple foolish) decision of Kampomanes about cessation the match without consequences in 1984.
To my regret, I can't help noticing that all these gigantic matches cost him too many strengths and his results to the middle of the 90th are bringing down. Especially stands his outstanding result in Linares-94,
when he finished ahead of all in proud loneliness, including G. Kasparov with 11/13.
A.
Karpov belongs to champions of the World, who confess classical chess. He said his main teacher was H. R. Capablanca not in vain. But the pupil has left his
predecessor behind. And he was on the throne longer. And his tournament's victories are more ponderable. Karpov
has an unique ability to win games using even the smallest advantage. But at the same time he won many games by high tactic skill. Good competence of theory and high techic of play in the endings finally have made Karpov universal player but he always
gravitated to classical chess. Karpov - this is a
faultless appreciate position, quick and easy of play. He knows how to
harmonize the pieces. Karpov reminds of hockey trainer who always sends his
players to the battle no giving an opponent even one minute for break.
Our
wishes of health, happiness and new creative successes in day of 50
th
anniversary.
Alexander Geller, International arbiter