Kasparov again succeeded in drawing with the Grunfeld. White manoeuvered to good squres in the middle game but the position was too blocked for there to be srious danger. As a matter of fact he missed a strong continuation on move 33.
Game 14
Game 14
Spanish Defense
Kasparov, who now was leading 8-6 increased the gap. The champion opened with 1. e4 and the first Ruy Lopez of the match was played. Karpov missed his way in a very complicated but interesting middle game.
After the 14th game Kasparov took his second Time Out. There must be some special psychological reasoning behind taking a Time Out immediately after winning a game. This is not the first time when Kasparov has made such a decision.
Game 15
Game 15
Grunfeld Defense
The Grunfeld experience was still discussed. Karpov failed to get any advantage and drew after 29 moves. Kasparov led 8.5:6.5.
Game 16
Game 16
Spanish Defense
The game was the most complicated and most well fought game of the Leningrad half. For months on end analysts are going to research and debate over the myriad rich variations that this game has thrown up. Karpov lost his way in the highly complicated middle game and ran into time trouble. When Kasparov played 37 d6! It was all over for Karpov. And the score became 9.5:6.5 in Kasparov’s favor. The match seemed to have turned into a formal affair. Nobody in Leningrad believed that Karpov could win 4 games and draw 4 games in the remaining 8 games of the Match to regain his title. After all, in the whole of the 1985 match he had won only three games out of 24.
Game 17
Game 17
Grunfeld Defense
The game marked Karpov’s surprising revival. Kasparov’s Grunfeld was rushed in a technically perfect game. Kasparov was unrecognizable. The score: 9.5:7.5 in Kasparov’s favour.
Game 18
Game 18
Nimzo-Indian Defense
The game was surprisingly won by Karpov to reduce the deficit to 8.5:9.5. Kasparov bungled a won game in time trouble and reached adjournment with a minus position. The resultant complicated ending was not quite lost and Kasparov missed a drawing chance on move 58 and lost. Kasparov now took his final Time Out.
Game 19
Game 19
Grunfeld Defense
Karpov won a sensational game in 41 moves against the Grunfeld and levelled the score at 9.5:9.5. The Challenger sacrificed the exchange but his anticipated counter-play never materialized thanks to a deadly pin along the e-file.
After the exercise, Karpov took a surprising time out-his last. Later, Kasparov described this as Karpov’s gift to him and Karpov himself conceded that his decision could have been a mistake.
Kasparov: “Another factor, which gave rise to false rumours, should also be mentioned here. There were changes in my training group, which was abandoned by Timoshchenko and Vladimirov. But whereas Timoshchenko’s departure was ‘planned’ desire before the start of the match, a serious conflict occurred in my relations with Vladimirov after the 19th game. To me he seemed to be behaving strangely — copying out the analysis of openings employed in the match. I cannot assert anything, and I have no grounds for accusing him, but equally I can no longer trust Vladimirov as I used to. We parted company precisely the day before Karpov’s postponement was announced.
During the rest days granted to me I came to my senses and outlined a plan for the finishing stretch of the match. In the 20th game it was decided “not to play” (i.e. to aim for a short draw), in the 21st to parry the opponent’s onslaught, and to make the 22nd the ‘retribution’ game. With this in mind we constructed the opening repertoire for the coming games, and in particular a new ‘Black’ opening was hastily prepared — the Grünfeld Defence could not be played (mainly for psychological reasons).”
Game 20
Game 20
The game was a Catalan and drawn after move 21. People said Kasparov had to stop the Karpov’s success and Karpov was plating with Black’s piece…Score 10:10.
Game 21
Game 21
It was again a draw, but Kasparov gave up his Grunfeld for a Queen Indian. Karpov emerged from the opening with a slight advantage but accurate play from the Champion removed any real danger. Kasparov: “my opponent play could not fail to lift my spirits. Everything was going according to plan. It was time to switch to the offensive- fate leads the daring, but cowards are dragged along…”
Game 22
Game 22
Queen’s Gambit Declined
The day saw a revived Kasparov playing with assurance and imagination. Kasparov’s dominating knight carried the day. The final assault beginning with the sealed move 42 Nd7 was superb and resembled an end game composition. Score 11.5:10.5 in favour of Kasparov.
Game 23
Game 23
English Opening
The opening show no good advantage for White and after an interesting Pawn sacrifice 24…b5, Black equalized immediately. This game is noteworthy for black’s unusual rook manoeuvre. The half point was enough for the Champion to end the match. Kasparov retained his title as the score was 12:11 in his favour.
Game 24
Game 24
Queen’s Indian Defence
With the match over, the scheduled game was only played to respect the public. It finished after 41 moves as drawn without a big fight. The match was definitvely finished on October 9.
