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Another mythical encounter between Kasparov and Karpov in an Exhibition Chess Match in Valencia

9 July 2009 421 views No Comment

The match between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov will be in honor of the Queen as a chess piece, which was added in the region of Valencia in the XV century, thus putting the beginning of the modern chess rules. Besides, it will be the 25th anniversary after their first match in the World Chess Championship.

Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov will play a 12 games match from 21 to 24 September. It will consist of 4 rapid (or semi rapid) and 8 blitz games.

The organizer of the match will be Don Basilio Lopez, who has received the full support of the Chess Federation of Valencia.

The organization of the match Kasparov – Karpov

Karpov, who is currently playing in San Sebastian Chess 2009 has been in Valencia many times, playing various simuls in Manises and the Palace of Music. Karpov is also an ambassador of the “Fundación Valencia Cuna del Ajedrez Moderno”, which is involved in the organization of the match. Kasparov, who will be coming from the Schachgesellschaft Zürich 200th anniversary, has been there only once in 1986 when he played a simul in Alcoy (a city near Valencia).

According to the organizers from Valencia, the negotiations for the match have been very long. Two more European cities (London and Vienna) and several Latin American ones wanted to host the event. Finally, after a month of debates, the match will take place in the Mediterranean Spanish city.

One of the reasons behind accepting to play the match in Spain was that it was the country where they played the 4th match for the World Championship title in 1987. The last game of that match was something that the chess world dreams until today – it was televised by TVE (Spanish national TV) and was followed live by 13 million people.

Short film about rapid match Karpov – Kasparov New York, 2002.