Kasparov Beats Karpov in Dramatic 1987 World Championship

The Final Stand in Seville

With one game left in their 1987 World Championship match, Garry Kasparov faced elimination. Anatoly Karpov had just won game 23 to take a 12-11 lead, putting the defending champion in a must-win situation to retain his title. The venue was Seville, Spain, and the chess world was watching to see if Karpov could finally reclaim the crown he'd lost two years earlier.

Kasparov opened with 1.c4, the English Opening - a choice that would prove crucial. This wasn't the sharp, tactical battle many expected, but rather a strategic grind that would test both players' nerves under maximum pressure.

The Critical Blunder

The game developed quietly through the opening with 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5, reaching a typical English Opening structure. Both players maneuvered carefully, understanding that a single mistake could decide not just the game, but the entire match.

The position remained roughly equal through the middlegame, with neither player able to claim a significant advantage. Then came the decisive moment: 31...Nxa4?. Karpov, playing under enormous pressure, grabbed a poisoned pawn that would cost him dearly.

Kasparov had the chance to punish this immediately with the powerful 33.Qb5!, which would have given him a clear winning position. Instead, he played the less precise 33.Qd1, allowing Karpov to stay in the game. But when Karpov followed up with 33...Ne7?, he found himself a pawn down in a difficult endgame.

The Endgame Grind

What followed was a precise display of technique from Kasparov. Despite missing the strongest continuation earlier, he methodically converted his extra pawn in the endgame. The position was adjourned after 42...g6, with Kasparov holding a winning advantage.

In the second session, Kasparov's technique proved decisive. He gradually improved his position, exploiting Karpov's time pressure and the psychological burden of defending a lost position. The final moves saw Kasparov's pieces coordinate perfectly: 60.Ba4 Qd5+ 61.Kh2 Qc5 62.Bb3 Qc8 63.Bd1 Qc5 64.Kg2, and Karpov resigned.

Retaining the Crown

The victory meant Kasparov retained his world championship with a 12-12 tie. Under the rules, a tied match meant the defending champion kept the title. It was a dramatic conclusion to one of the most intense championship matches in chess history.

For Karpov, it was heartbreak. At 36, this represented perhaps his last realistic chance to reclaim the world title. For the 24-year-old Kasparov, it was validation of his championship credentials and proof of his ability to perform under ultimate pressure.

The 1987 match in Seville would be remembered as one of the great championship battles, decided by the finest of margins in the most dramatic circumstances possible. At ChessFlow, we've turned this historic game into wall art - a fitting tribute to one of chess's most memorable moments.