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Anatoly Karpov 1978-by Unknown author-

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Anatoly Karpov

Anatoly Karpov was born on May 23rd, 1951 in Zlatoust, in the Urals region of the former soviet union. He learned to play chess at the age of 4 . He is a Russian and former Soviet chess grandmaster, former world chess champion, and politician.

He was admitted into Mikhail Botvinnik’s prestigious school at the age of 12 through which Botvinnik didn’t see hope for him.

Karpov relied on chess books and worked diligently where he improved so quickly under Botvinniks tutelage becoming the youngest soviet mater in history at 15 in1966.

He was the 12th world chess champion from1975 to 1985, a three-time FIDE world champion, and twice world chess champion as a member of the USSR team. The International Association of Chess Press awarded him chess, Oscar.

He is also an elected member of the Duma in Russia and since 2006, he has chaired the commission for Ecological safety and Environmental protection of the civic chamber of the Russian Federation.

He has also been a member of the public council and the ministry of defense since 2007. Here are 10 interesting facts about Anatoly Karpov.

1. He became the youngest soviet-master in history

AnatolyKarpov13-by Stefan64-

Anatoly Karpov (1967)-by Jack de Nijs for Anefo-

Karpov learned to play at the get of 4 and became a candidate master at 11 years where after, he joined Mikhail Botvinnik’s prestigious chess school at the age of 12.

He was underestimated at first but improved so quickly under the tutelage of Botvinnik who greatly assigned him to consult chess books and to work diligently.

He became the youngest soviet master in history at the age of 15, which tied the record established by Boris Spassky in 1952.

2. Karpov graduated from Leningrad State University in economics

In 1968, Karpov won a gold medal for excellence in high school and entered Moscow State University where he studied mathematics.

He later transferred to Leningrad State University so he could be close to his couch, grandmaster Semyon Furman, who lived in Leningrad where he eventually graduated in economics.

3. Anatoly Karpov earned the International grandmaster title in 1969

AnatolyKarpov13.jpg-by Stefan64-

In 1969 he became the first Soviet player to win the World Junior Championships, scoring an undefeated 10/11 in the final A at Stockholm since Spassky in 1955.

This victory earned him the international master title where later in 1970 at the International tournament in Caracas, Venezuela.

He tied for 4th and 5th places with Pal Benko. He was awarded the title during its 41st congress by FIDE, held during the chess olympiad in Siegen, West Germany in September 1970.

4. He qualified for the Candidate Matches in 1974

Kramnik – Mamedyarov and Karpov, Candidates Tournament 2018. jpg-by Vladimir Barskij-

Karpov’s World Junior Championship qualified him for one of the two interzonal, the Leningrad interzonal which he finished equal 1st qualifying for the 1974 Candidates matches.

He defeated Lev Polugaevsky in the first candidate match earning him the right to face former champion Boris Spassky in the semifinal round. He was to challenge the world champion Bobby Fischer in the 1975 World Championship cycle.

5. Karpov was the 12th World Chess Champion from 1975 to 1985

Following the candidates’ cycle in 1975, Karpov secured his overall victory against Boris Spassky. He played the candidates final in Moscow with Victor Korchnoi in the 1st game where he took an early lead and won the 2nd game against the Sicilian Dragon.

He took lead following ten consecutive draws in the game against Korchnoi who had won the end game but marked a speedy victory after a blunder by Karpov who played aggressively two games later.

During the 1975 match with champion Fischer, there was a disagreement as Fischer insisted to retain the crown if the score was tied. The FIDE, International Chess Federation refused to allow the proviso.

It gave the players a deadline of April 1st, 1975 to agree to play the game under the FIDE-approved rules. On April 3rd, 1975, Karpov was declared the new World Champion by FIDE president Max Euwe, when Fischer did not agree.

6. Karpov attained the World Champion without having faced the reigning champion

Anatoly Karpov was to challenge the World champion Bobby Fischer in 1975 for the world title in which the match was highly awaited. Fischer disagreed with the FIDE rules insisting that the match be the first to ten wins.

Also if the score was tied, he’d retain the champion title which FIDE did not approve of. Fischer refused to play the game and in turn, Karpov was declared the new World Champion.

7. He created an extraordinary streak of tournament wins against the strongest players in the World

Karpov did challenge the strongest players in the 1974 candidates match which included Lev Polugaevsky, Boris Spassky, Victor Korchnoi, Sicilian Dragon, and the World champion Bobby Fischer.

Determined to prove himself a legitimate champion, he participated in nearly every major tournament for the next 10 years winning the Milan tournament in1975.

He created a streak of tournament wins against the strongest players in the World holding the record for most consecutive tournament victories.

8. Karpov vied for the FIDE presidency

Anatoly Karpov announced that he would be a candidate for the presidency of FIDE in March 2010. The election took place in September 2010 at the 39th chess olympiad after he had conducted a fundraising event in May.

It took place in New York with the participation of Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen both of whom campaigned for him. He lost to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov who was re-elected as president of FIDE.

9. He won the Tournament for Stars in 1979

Karpov in actie (tegen Smyslov), Bestanddeelnr-by Koen Suyk / Anefo-

Karpov’s tournament career reached its peak in 1979 after winning the Tournament of Stars against Mikhail Tal. He also won the prestigious Bugojno Tournament in 1978,1980and 1986, the Linares Tournament in 1981, the Tilburg Tournament in 1977,1979,1980,1982, and 1983, and the Soviet Championship in 1976,1983 and 1988.

10. He has been a member of the Public Chamber of Russia

Karpov opened his first chess school in Lindsborg, Kansas after his retirement and has been a member of the 6th,7th, and 8th Russian State Dumas and a member of the Public Chamber of Russia since 2005.

Anatoly Karpov who is now 71years, held the World Chess Championship until he was challenged by Kasparov.

He has been in several humanitarian causes and is a member of the state Duma placed under sanctions by the EU during the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Today he lives in Leningrad with his family.