Game 14
Game 14
Nimzo-Idian Defence
After withstanding the challenger’s pressure in the last few games, Karpov crashed through in fine style in Game Fourteen. The match score probably influenced Kamsky’s decision to play 3. Nc3, allowing the Nimzo-Indian Defense for the first time in the match. The struggle soon revolved around a familiar theme: the challenger accepting an isolated d-pawn for active piece play and chances for direct attack.
Kamsky’s 15. Bb3!? was an improvement over a recent game in this line. White seemed to stand better, but perhaps 18. Qe3 was a bit of an over-finesse. The resulting ending still seemed mildly promising for Kamsky, until he erred in severe time pressure with 33. Ng1? (instead of the immediate 33. Nc5). The slight delay proved disastrous, allowing Black to surmount any difficulties and actually win a pawn. In the second session, Karpov relentlessly pressed his advantage to secure the full point.
Game 15
Game 15
Modern Benoni
Kamsky came out fighting and played the Modern Benoni. Karpov avoided the ultra-critical Bb5+ line and offered a draw in a position where he was still a little bit better.
Game 16
Game 16
Queen’s Indian Defence
Kamsky and Karpov discussed a line Karpov has played with white. Its very sharp and Karpov played a very poor TN with Qf5. Kamsky won a pawn and ground Karpov down, although at one point Karpov seemed to have come back into the game he blundered and was gone in just two more moves. It was the worst game of the match said Henly his second.
Game 17
Game 17
Reti Opening
Black had a slight advantage both in middlegame and endgame. Finally Karpov managed to secure a difficult draw. Karpov: “My young opponent has shown surprising finthing qualities. In a difficult situation he controlled his nerves and exhibited subborn resistance when any other player would have given up. He proved that not be chance did he qualify for the World Championship Match.”
Game 18
Game 18
Queen’s Indian Defence
The challenger was faced with the following puzzle: how best to start the three-game winning streak that he needed desperately to tie the match. Kamsky elected to play solid chess with 1. d4. Karpov also played conservatively, choosing the solid Queen’s Indian Defense (3. … b6). The game soon developed along lines that were well-known to the world champion (play up through 20. Rad1 was seen in a game from the first Karpov-Kasparov match in 1984/85). Karpov’s 20. … h5!? improved on that earlier championship game, virtually forcing an ending with only minutely better play for White. The match situation forced the challenger to continue play well past the point where he might reasonably expect success, and the game was adjourned on Black’s 57th move. Karpov’s sealed move (57. … f6) set up a solid defensive formation. The inertia of the match score caused Kamsky to add a number of meaningless moves — perhaps he simply wanted to prolong the experience of playing in the title match.
The players agreed to a draw on move 80, and so Karpov successfully defended his FIDE World Championship title by the final score of 10.5 – 7.5.
Karpov: “Before the first time control I play carelessly and after the reply I suddenly saw that my position was nearly lost,,All commentators said that a draw was the most likely result from the adjourned position. I was not that simply. Having analyzing all night we did not find a clear way of drawing, but neither as there an obvious loss”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total | |
| Karpov, A | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 10 ½ |
| Kamsky, G | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 7 ½ |
Elista, VI-VII, 1996.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total | ||
| Karpov A | 1 | 0 | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | 10.5 | |
| Kamsky G | 0 | 1 | = | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | 7.5 |
Christophe Bouton, a French chess journalist reported on the fial day and speeches: Karpov: “This match was difficult for me the fight was hard ; all the games were hard-fought up to the end, 6-8 hours and more. I had some problems and I had to make great efforts to win the match. When the situation became hopeless for Kamsky, he began to play without any pressure. I had an unpleasant feeling to finish this match quicker; that’s why I began to play not very well. “
Q: Atmosphere of the match?
A: Very good conditions, just nice, here they gave us some of the best conditions I have ever had in World championship matches. I’d like to thank Kirsan Nikolaievich and the organisers. I did not sleep before resumption of game 18 we had a very difficult analysis of the 18th game; the position was very difficult and I think Gata’s team did not sleep either. Playing and not sleeping was hard indeed.
Q: Was your victory as fair result?
A: I played better, what should I say?
Q: What would you wish to your young challenger?
A: He showed amazing fighting qualities; he could bear difficult situations without cracking; he proved that he deserved to be a challenger
Karpov and Kamsky gave a press conference on July 13th; it lasted one hour or so. Nothing special was said; Kamsky refused to answer any questions, did not smile as usual but he took part nevertheless to the closing ceremony that followed concerts, dancings and a very late party in the steps.
For Gata Kamsky it was the end of a chess career. Few months later he announced his retirement of chess. He said he wanted to go to University to follow medical study. A great lost for chess!
During the 1997 FIDE Congress in Kishinev, Moldovia, the President announced establishment of the World Chess Foundation which shall guarantee organization of the next ten World Championships for twenty years, each with a prize fund of US$ 5,000,000 for a total of US$ 50,000,000. This will assure the players that they can earn substantial income and also shall be attractive to the sponsors.