Defending champion |
Challenger | |||||
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Born 13 April 1963 27 years old |
Born 23 May 1951 39 years old | |||||
Winner of the 1987 World Chess Championship | Winner of the Candidates Tournament | |||||
Rating: 2800 ( World No. 1) |
Rating: 2730 ( World No. 2) | |||||
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The World Chess Championship 1990 was played between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. It was the fifth and final Kasparov–Karpov championship match, and saw Kasparov win by a single point.
Three Interzonals were held in the summer of 1987, with 16 to 18 players playing in each and the top three scorers from each qualifying.
Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Total | Tie break | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2570 | - | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 10½ | 74.25 |
2 | ![]() |
2615 | 0 | - | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 10½ | 73.00 |
3 | ![]() |
2550 | ½ | ½ | - | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10½ | 70.75 |
4 | ![]() |
2605 | ½ | ½ | 1 | - | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 72.50 |
5 | ![]() |
2580 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 63.25 |
6 | ![]() |
2495 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | |
7 | ![]() |
2505 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
8 | ![]() |
2550 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 7½ | 52.00 |
9 | ![]() |
2570 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7½ | 51.00 |
10 | ![]() |
2540 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7 | |
11 | ![]() |
2505 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6½ | |
12 | ![]() |
2465 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | |
13 | ![]() |
2575 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | ½ | 0 | ½ | 5½ | |
14 | ![]() |
2495 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | - | 1 | ½ | 5 | |
15 | ![]() |
2425 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | ½ | 4 | |
16 | ![]() |
2310 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | 3 |
In the first tournament in Subotica, Sax, Short, and Speelman qualified. Lubomir Kavalek withdrew after six rounds; his results are not included in the totals for the other players. Robert Hübner was invited, but declined to participate. As a result, Ribli had a free day during the last round. To show his displeasure, he refused to take part in a playoff against Tal, which could have been important, if a reserve spot had opened up in the Candidates Tournament.
Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total | Tie break | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2575 | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12½ | 97.25 |
2 | ![]() |
2550 | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12½ | 96.50 |
3 | ![]() |
2615 | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 12 | 98.50 |
4 | ![]() |
2585 | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 92.50 |
5 | ![]() |
2630 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | |
6 | ![]() |
2600 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | - | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 10½ | |
7 | ![]() |
2625 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 10 | |
8 | ![]() |
2575 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | - | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
9 | ![]() |
2575 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 61.75 |
10 | ![]() |
2475 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 59.75 |
11 | ![]() |
2475 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | - | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7½ | 52.75 |
12 | ![]() |
2520 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7½ | 51.75 |
13 | ![]() |
2540 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | - | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 7 | 55.00 |
14 | ![]() |
2495 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | - | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 49.75 |
15 | ![]() |
2480 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
16 | ![]() |
2485 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | - | 0 | 1 | 5½ | |
17 | ![]() |
2370 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | ½ | 4½ | |
18 | ![]() |
2310 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | - | 1½ |
In the Szirák tournament, Valery Salov and Jóhann Hjartarson finished at the top of the table, while Lajos Portisch and John Nunn tied for third. The last place in the Candidates Tournament was decided in a separate playoff in Budapest, with Portisch defeating Nunn 4–2.
Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Total | Tie break | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
2630 | - | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 11 | |
2 | ![]() |
2540 | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 10 | 80.75 |
3 | ![]() |
2600 | 0 | ½ | - | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 73.50 |
4 | ![]() |
2555 | 1 | ½ | 0 | - | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9½ | 71.00 |
5 | ![]() |
2620 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | - | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9½ | 67.50 |
6 | ![]() |
2525 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9½ | 67.50 |
7 | ![]() |
2540 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | - | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 9 | |
8 | ![]() |
2595 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 8½ | 65.25 |
9 | ![]() |
2575 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | - | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 61.25 |
10 | ![]() |
2545 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | - | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 59.50 |
11 | ![]() |
2575 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8½ | 59.25 |
12 | ![]() |
2495 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7½ | |
13 | ![]() |
2485 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | - | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7 | |
14 | ![]() |
2585 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6½ | |
15 | ![]() |
2555 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | - | ½ | 1 | 6 | |
16 | ![]() |
2455 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | - | 1 | 5 | |
17 | ![]() |
2320 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1½ |
Viktor Korchnoi emerged as winner of the last tournament in Zagreb, ahead of Jaan Ehlvest and Yasser Seirawan. In an extra playoff in Havana in November, Nikolić took the place as reserve for the Candidates Tournament with 6 points, ahead of Granda (4) and Nogueiras (2). No reserve was needed, however.
In addition to nine players from the Interzonals, the top four of the previous Candidates Tournament (Sokolov, Timman, Vaganian, and Yusupov) qualified directly for this tournament. The Canadian organizers of the preliminary matches (which were held in Saint John, New Brunswick) nominated one player, (Spraggett). Finally, Karpov, the challenger in the previous cycle, was seeded into the quarterfinals.
Preliminary matches Saint John, Jan–Feb 1988 | Quarterfinals Antwerp, London, Quebec, and Seattle, Aug 1988 – Feb 1989 | Semifinals London, Oct 1989 | Final Kuala Lumpur, Mar 1990 | ||||||||||||||||
![]() | Lajos Portisch | 3½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Rafael Vaganian | 2½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 2½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 3½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Valery Salov | 2½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Jan Timman | 3½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 4½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 3½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Jon Speelman | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Yasser Seirawan | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 3½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Nigel Short | 3½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Gyula Sax | 1½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 2½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 6½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Artur Yusupov | 3½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Jaan Ehlvest | 1½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Kevin Spraggett | 6½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Andrei Sokolov | 5½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 3½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 4½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | Jóhann Hjartarson | 4½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | Viktor Korchnoi | 3½ | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 1½ | ||||||||||||||||||
![]() | 3½ |
Karpov won, once again facing Kasparov for the fifth and final time in seven years. Karpov later alleged that a Dutch sponsor had offered to pay him to lose the match against Timman. [1]
The first twelve games were played in New York City (8 October – 7 November), the other twelve taking place in Lyon, France (26 November – 30 December). [2]
Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
2730 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 11½ |
![]() |
2800 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 12½ |
Kasparov won the match and retained his title.
Although still a Soviet citizen, Kasparov refused to play the Championship match under the flag of the USSR. Instead, he wanted to use the Russian flag (not the flag of the RSFSR, but the old tri-color) which, incidentally, would be re-adopted after the collapse of the Soviet Union a year later. Kasparov was indeed allowed to play with a small Russian tri-color at the table. [3]
Kasparov, Garry 2010. Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess, Part 4: Kasparov v Karpov 1988–2009. London: Everyman Chess.