Classical World Chess Championship 1995
Encyclopedia
The Classical World Chess Championship 1995, known at the time as the PCA World Chess Championship 1995, was held from September 10, 1995, to October 16, 1995, on the 107th floor of the former World Trade Center
in New York City
. Garry Kasparov
, the defending champion, played Viswanathan Anand
, the challenger, in a twenty-game match. Kasparov won the match with four wins, one loss, and thirteen draws
.
). In response, FIDE stripped Kasparov of his status and organised an event to determine a new champion — this event was won by Anatoly Karpov
.
Kasparov claimed that, as he had not been defeated by a challenger to his title in a match, and in fact had defeated the rightful challenger (Nigel Short
in 1993), that he was still the reigning world champion.
Thus, for the first time since the inaugural World Championship in 1886, there were two rival World Chess Championship
s.
The PCA ran a world championship cycle similar in format to that in use by FIDE at the time. It was to be the only full championship cycle run under the auspices of the PCA.
tournament and Candidates matches
in 1993–1995. A number of leading players did not participate, most notably FIDE World Champion Karpov.
The events were held at a similar time as the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996
, with many of the same players playing in both.
The Interzonal had 54 players in an 11 round Swiss tournament, with the top seven qualifying the Candidates. These seven were joined in the Candidates by Nigel Short
, the loser of the 1993 PCA World Championship match against Kasparov.
The first round Candidates matches were best of eight games. The second round was best of 10. The final was best of 12. If the scores were tied, rapid chess games were played as tie breakers, played in pairs of games until one player had a lead.
, on the 107th floor of the South Tower.
The match began with eight consecutive draws. In game 9 Anand, with white, broke through Kasparov's Sicilian Scheveningen
defence to win. Kasparov hit back immediately in game 10, with a novelty in the Ruy Lopez
Open Defence.
Game 11 was arguably the turning point in the match. Kasparov sprung a major surprise by playing the Sicilian Dragon
with black - a once-popular defence which is now only played at the top level by a few specialists. Anand missed a comparatively simple combination and lost. After a draw in game 12, Anand again played weakly against the Dragon in game 13, losing again with white to go two points down.
When Anand lost game 14, Kasparov had a commanding 8½-5½ lead and the match was effectively over. The players drew their remaining games.
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
, the defending champion, played Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand
V. Anand or Anand Viswanathan, usually referred as Viswanathan Anand, is an Indian chess Grandmaster, the current World Chess Champion, and currently second highest rated player in the world....
, the challenger, in a twenty-game match. Kasparov won the match with four wins, one loss, and thirteen draws
Draw (chess)
In chess, a draw is when a game ends in a tie. It is one of the possible outcomes of a game, along with a win for White and a win for Black . Usually, in tournaments a draw is worth a half point to each player, while a win is worth one point to the victor and none to the loser.For the most part,...
.
Background
In 1993, the reigning FIDE World Chess Champion, Garry Kasparov decided to split from FIDE because he felt the organisation was corrupt, and formed a rival organisation, the PCA (Professional Chess AssociationProfessional Chess Association
The Professional Chess Association , which existed between 1993 and 1996, was a rival organisation to FIDE, the international chess organization...
). In response, FIDE stripped Kasparov of his status and organised an event to determine a new champion — this event was won by Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...
.
Kasparov claimed that, as he had not been defeated by a challenger to his title in a match, and in fact had defeated the rightful challenger (Nigel Short
Nigel Short
Nigel David Short MBE is an English chess grandmaster earning the title at the age of 19. Short is often regarded as the strongest English player of the 20th century as he was ranked third in the world, from January 1988 – July 1989 and in 1993, he challenged Garry Kasparov for the World Chess...
in 1993), that he was still the reigning world champion.
Thus, for the first time since the inaugural World Championship in 1886, there were two rival World Chess Championship
World Chess Championship
The World Chess Championship is played to determine the World Champion in the board game chess. Men and women of any age are eligible to contest this title....
s.
The PCA ran a world championship cycle similar in format to that in use by FIDE at the time. It was to be the only full championship cycle run under the auspices of the PCA.
Qualification
The PCA held InterzonalInterzonal
Interzonal chess tournaments were tournaments organized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and were a stage in the triennial World Chess Championship cycle.- Zonal tournaments :...
tournament and Candidates matches
Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament is a chess tournament organized by the world chess federation FIDE since 1950, as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship...
in 1993–1995. A number of leading players did not participate, most notably FIDE World Champion Karpov.
The events were held at a similar time as the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996
FIDE World Chess Championship 1996
The FIDE World Chess Championship 1996 was a chess tournament held by FIDE to determine the World Chess Champion.-Background:At the time the World Chess Champion title was split....
, with many of the same players playing in both.
The Interzonal had 54 players in an 11 round Swiss tournament, with the top seven qualifying the Candidates. These seven were joined in the Candidates by Nigel Short
Nigel Short
Nigel David Short MBE is an English chess grandmaster earning the title at the age of 19. Short is often regarded as the strongest English player of the 20th century as he was ranked third in the world, from January 1988 – July 1989 and in 1993, he challenged Garry Kasparov for the World Chess...
, the loser of the 1993 PCA World Championship match against Kasparov.
The first round Candidates matches were best of eight games. The second round was best of 10. The final was best of 12. If the scores were tied, rapid chess games were played as tie breakers, played in pairs of games until one player had a lead.
The games
The final was played at the World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, on the 107th floor of the South Tower.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anand 2725 +13 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7½ |
| Kasparov 2795 -32 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 10½ |
The match began with eight consecutive draws. In game 9 Anand, with white, broke through Kasparov's Sicilian Scheveningen
Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation
In the opening of a game of chess, the Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of Black's most ambitious lines in the Open Sicilian...
defence to win. Kasparov hit back immediately in game 10, with a novelty in the Ruy Lopez
Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del...
Open Defence.
Game 11 was arguably the turning point in the match. Kasparov sprung a major surprise by playing the Sicilian Dragon
Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation
In chess, the Dragon Variation is one of the main lines of the Sicilian Defence and begins with the moves:The name "Dragon" was first coined by Russian chess master and amateur astronomer Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky who noted the resemblance of Black's kingside pawn structure to the constellation...
with black - a once-popular defence which is now only played at the top level by a few specialists. Anand missed a comparatively simple combination and lost. After a draw in game 12, Anand again played weakly against the Dragon in game 13, losing again with white to go two points down.
When Anand lost game 14, Kasparov had a commanding 8½-5½ lead and the match was effectively over. The players drew their remaining games.
External links
- For a match report, see Special Report to ICC--Kasparov Wins Match by Leigh Walker and Brian Karen.