1974 Karpov vs Korchnoi

During September-November 1974, Soviet grandmasters Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi faced each other in a match of 24 games to determine who would have the right to challenge the American, Bobby Fischer, for the World Championship. Since Fischer ultimately refused to defend his title, the match proved to be a de facto World Championship contest.

Karpov had qualified for the Candidates’ final by defeating Lev Polugaevsky and Boris Spassky, in the Quarter- and Semi-finals, held respectively in Moscow and Leningrad. Korchnoi had correspondingly defeated Henrique Mecking and Tigran Petrosian, in Augusta and Odessa.

The Karpov-Korchnoi contest took place in Moscow, in two of the most prestigious venues in the city – the Hall of Columns in the House of Unions, a short distance from Red Square, and in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. The chief arbiter was the Belgian grandmaster, Albéric O’Kelly.

Play began at 17:00 on the 16th September. It ended more than two months later, on 22nd November, with victory going to the 24-year-old Karpov by the score 12½:11½ (+3, -2, =19). This was despite a strong comeback by Korchnoi, who won the 19th and 21st games, having been three points behind with only six games remaining.