FIDE World Chess Championship 1998

The FIDE World Chess Championship 1998 was contested in a match between the FIDE World Champion Anatoly Karpov and the challenger Viswanathan Anand. The match took place between 2 January and 9 January 1998 in Lausanne, Switzerland. The challenger was determined in a tournament held in Groningen, Netherlands, between 9 December and 30 December 1997. After the championship match ended in a draw, Karpov won the rapid playoff, becoming the 1998 FIDE World Chess Champion.

New World Championship format

Background

From 1948 to 1993, the world chess championship had been administered by FIDE, the international chess federation. In 1993, World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov split from FIDE and formed a rival organisation, the Professional Chess Association. FIDE stripped Kasparov of his title, meaning there were now two rival championships: the FIDE title, held by Anatoly Karpov, and the PCA title, held by Kasparov. Karpov and Kasparov had successfully defended their titles at the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996 and PCA World Chess Championship 1995 respectively.

From 1948 until 1996, World Chess Championships had followed a similar pattern: a series of qualifying tournaments and matches were held over more than a year, culminating in the Candidates Tournament. The winner of the Candidates tournament was the official challenger for the world title and would play the incumbent champion in a match for world championship. (The 1996 cycle was an exception. The incumbent world champion participated in the Candidates tournament as a seeded semi-finalist.)

In 1997, FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov proposed a completely new structure: a knockout tournament, consisting of two-game matches (slightly longer in the final rounds), with match tie-breakers using rapid chess and blitz chess if necessary. This format had been done before in tournaments such as Tilburg 1992-94, but never at the world championship level.

In addition to the new format, it was proposed by Ilyumzhinov as a way to unify the two rival world titles. To do this, FIDE champion Anatoly Karpov and PCA champion Garry Kasparov were each to be seeded into the semi-finals.

Kasparov did not want to defend his title under these circumstances and declined his invitation. The format was then modified to have FIDE champion Karpov seeded directly into the final.

Controversies

The advantages of the new format were:

  • It avoided a long cycle, and was all over in a month or so. This is could all be done in the one venue, it would not have the scheduling problems which had beset some previous world championship cycles. Each round could be played in 3 days (one day for each normal time control game, and one for the tie breaks).
  • More players (up to 128) could be included.
  • There were no special privileges for the incumbent champion or seeded players (although some were preserved in the earlier championships, these were completely eliminated later on).

Opponents pointed out disadvantages of the format:

  • Short matches (only two games in the earlier rounds) left too much to chance - the stronger player could blunder a game, and it would be difficult to recover from a bad start. (Many world championship and Candidates matches had been won by the player who recovered from an early loss).
  • The rapid playoffs were also seen to be left too much to chance: strength in rapid chess is not the same as strength in chess with normal time controls.
  • These first two considerations, taken together, meant there was a very high chance that the best player would not win, or even that a complete outsider might win, opponents argued.
  • Some people felt that the tradition of the champion being seeded into the final should be preserved, so that a new champion can only be champion by defeating the old champion.
  • However, the scheduling of the match caused great controversy regarding the fairness of the contest: Anand was forced to play a fresh and prepared Karpov a mere three days[1] after his exhausting performance at Groningen.

Prominent non-participants
  • Kasparov did not want to defend his title under these circumstances, and declined his invitation.
  • Vladimir Kramnik declined to play, in protest against Karpov being seeded into the final.

Participants

All players are grandmasters unless indicated otherwise.

  1.  Vladimir Kramnik1 (RUS), 2770
  2.  Viswanathan Anand (IND), 2765
  3.  Anatoly Karpov (RUS), 2745
  4.  Veselin Topalov (BUL), 2745
  5.  Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR), 2725
  6.  Alexander Beliavsky (SLO), 2710
  7.  Alexei Shirov (ESP), 2700
  8.  Boris Gelfand (BLR), 2695
  9.  Michael Adams (ENG), 2680
  10.  Valery Salov (RUS), 2680
  11.  Yevgeny Bareev (RUS), 2670
  12.  Kiril Georgiev (BUL), 2670
  13.  Judit Polgár (HUN), 2670
  14.  Matthew Sadler (ENG), 2665
  15.  Vladimir Akopian (ARM), 2660
  16.  Aleksej Alexandrov (BLR), 2660
  17.  Joël Lautier (FRA), 2660
  18.  Nigel Short (ENG), 2660
  19.  Peter Svidler (RUS), 2660
  20.  Alexander Khalifman (RUS), 2655
  21.  Loek van Wely (NED), 2655
  22.  Zurab Azmaiparashvili (GEO), 2650
  23.  Sergei Rublevsky (RUS), 2650
  24.  Alex Yermolinsky (USA), 2650
  25.  Michal Krasenkov (POL), 2645
  26.  Lembit Oll (EST), 2645
  27.  Eduardas Rozentalis (LTU), 2645
  28.  Ulf Andersson (SWE), 2640
  29.  Alexander Chernin (HUN), 2640
  30.  Alexey Dreev (RUS), 2640
  31.  Rafael Vaganian (ARM), 2640
  32.  Arthur Yussupov (GER), 2640
  33.  Peter Leko (HUN), 2635
  34.  Vadim Milov (SUI), 2635
  35.  Ivan Sokolov (BIH), 2635
  36.  Vadim Zvjaginsev (RUS), 2635
  37.  Predrag Nikolić (BIH), 2630
  38.  Jeroen Piket (NED), 2630
  39.  Yasser Seirawan (USA), 2630
  40.  Giorgy Giorgadze (GEO), 2625
  41.  Julio Granda (PER), 2625
  42.  Jan Timman (NED), 2625
  43.  Zoltán Almási (HUN), 2615
  44.  Boris Alterman (ISR), 2615
  45.  Vladimir Malaniuk (UKR), 2615
  46.  Vladislav Tkachiev (KAZ), 2615
  47.  Utut Adianto (INA), 2610
  48.  Jaan Ehlvest (EST), 2610
  49.  Viktor Korchnoi (SUI), 2610
  50.  Lajos Portisch (HUN), 2610
  51.  Jóhann Hjartarson (ISL), 2605
  52.  Zbyněk Hráček (CZE), 2605
  53.  Friso Nijboer (NED), 2605
  54.  Curt Hansen (DEN), 2600
  55.  Grigory Kaidanov (USA), 2600
  56.  Ivan Morovic (CHI), 2600
  57.  Gilberto Milos (BRA), 2590
  58.  Alexander Morozevich (RUS), 2590
  59.  Emil Sutovsky (ISR), 2590
  60.  Sergei Tiviakov (RUS), 2590
  61.  Viktor Bologan (MDA), 2585
  62.  Miguel Illescas (ESP), 2585
  63.  Vasilios Kotronias (GRE), 2585
  64.  Alexander Nenashev (UZB), 2585
  65.  Andrei Sokolov (RUS), 2585
  66.  Joel Benjamin (USA), 2580
  67.  Boris Gulko (USA), 2580
  68.  Kevin Spraggett (CAN), 2575
  69.  Vladimir Epishin (RUS), 2570
  70.  Stefan Kindermann (GER), 2570
  71.  Konstantin Lerner (UKR), 2560
  72.  Margeir Petursson (ISL), 2555
  73.  Paul van der Sterren (NED), 2555
  74.  Larry Christiansen (USA), 2550
  75.  Andrei Istrățescu (ROM), 2550
  76.  Roman Slobodjan (GER), 2550
  77.  Ashot Anastasian (ARM), 2545
  78.  Étienne Bacrot (FRA), 2545
  79.  Bojan Kurajica (BIH), 2545
  80.  Alexander Fominyh (RUS), 2535
  81.  Hichem Hamdouchi (MAR), 2535
  82.  Peng Xiaomin (CHN), 2530
  83.  Peter Wells (ENG), 2530
  84.  Gilberto Hernandez (MEX), 2525
  85.  Thomas Luther (GER), 2525
  86.  John van der Wiel (NED), 2525
  87.  Wang Zili (CHN), 2520
  88.  Dibyendu Barua (IND), 2515
  89.  Sarunas Sulskis (LTU), 2510
  90.  Igor Glek (RUS), 2505
  91.  Igor Miladinović (GRE), 2500
  92.  Tal Shaked (USA), 2500, IM
  93.  Niaz Murshed (BAN), 2490
  94.  Gildardo Garcia (COL), 2480
  95.  Vasily Smyslov (RUS), 2480
  96.  Helgi Gretarsson (ISL), 2475
  97.  Essam Mohammed2 (EGY), 2460, IM[2]
  98.  Hendrik Hoeksema (NED), 2400, IM
  99.  Watu Kobese (RSA), 2315, IM
  100.  Alexander Umgaev (RUS), unrated, no title

1 Kramnik (ranked 2nd in the world) declined participation on the grounds that Karpov's direct entry into the final was unacceptable.[3]

2 Mohammed did not appear.

Garry Kasparov (ranked 1st in the world), Gata Kamsky (ranked 7th), and Zsuzsa Polgar (Women's world champion) declined participation in advance.

Karpov as defending FIDE champion was seeded directly into the championship match. Of the 97 remaining participants, 68 entered the tournament in the first round, 28 in the second round and 1 (Gelfand, the winner of the previous Interzonal) in the third round.

Results, rounds 1-4

Section 1
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  9 Michael Adams 2  
    40 Giorgy Giorgadze 0  
40 Giorgy Giorgadze 4
78 Étienne Bacrot 3  
  9 Michael Adams 1½  
  60 Sergei Tiviakov ½  
27 Eduardas Rozentalis 1½  
71 Konstantin Lerner ½  
  27 Eduardas Rozentalis ½
    60 Sergei Tiviakov 1½  
     
       
  9 Michael Adams 4
  19 Peter Svidler 2
       
       
  19 Peter Svidler 1½
    47 Utut Adianto ½  
47 Utut Adianto 2
87 Wang Zili 0  
  19 Peter Svidler 1½
  69 Vladimir Epishin ½  
       
       
  35 Ivan Sokolov 1½
    69 Vladimir Epishin 2½  
     

Section 2
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  4 Veselin Topalov ½  
    38 Jeroen Piket 1½  
     
       
  38 Jeroen Piket 2½  
  21 Loek van Wely 3½  
       
       
  21 Loek van Wely 1½
    91 Igor Miladinović ½  
54 Curt Hansen 1½
91 Igor Miladinović 2½  
  21 Loek van Wely 1½
  12 Kiril Georgiev ½
       
       
  12 Kiril Georgiev 2½
    44 Boris Alterman 1½  
44 Boris Alterman 1½
83 Peter Wells ½  
  12 Kiril Georgiev 1½
  34 Vadim Milov ½  
74 Larry Christiansen 4  
28 Ulf Andersson 5  
  28 Ulf Andersson 3
    34 Vadim Milov 4  
63 Vasilios Kotronias 1½
34 Vadim Milov 2½  

Section 3
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  6 Alexander Beliavsky 1½  
    42 Jan Timman ½  
     
       
  6 Alexander Beliavsky 2½  
  23 Sergei Rublevsky 1½  
23 Sergei Rublevsky 2  
68 Kevin Spraggett 0  
  23 Sergei Rublevsky 1½
    92 Tal Shaked ½  
92 Tal Shaked 3
56 Ivan Morovic 2  
  6 Alexander Beliavsky 1
  18 Nigel Short 3
       
       
  18 Nigel Short 3½
    49 Viktor Korchnoi 2½  
49 Viktor Korchnoi 1½
84 Gilberto Hernandez ½  
  18 Nigel Short 2
  65 Andrei Sokolov 0  
29 Alexander Chernin 2  
75 Andrei Istrățescu 3  
  75 Andrei Istrățescu 0
    65 Andrei Sokolov 2  
65 Andrei Sokolov 1½
99 Watu Kobese ½  

Section 4
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
       
  22 Zurab Azmaiparashvili 2½  
    76 Roman Slobodjan 1½  
76 Roman Slobodjan 1½
33 Peter Leko ½  
  22 Zurab Azmaiparashvili 1½  
  16 Aleksej Alexandrov ½  
16 Aleksej Alexandrov 3  
67 Boris Gulko 2  
  16 Aleksej Alexandrov 2½
    51 Jóhann Hjartarson 1½  
51 Jóhann Hjartarson 2½
89 Sarunas Sulskis 1½  
  22 Zurab Azmaiparashvili 3
  25 Michal Krasenkov 4
       
       
  11 Yevgeny Bareev 2
    45 Vladimir Malaniuk 0  
45 Vladimir Malaniuk 2
81 Hichem Hamdouchi 0  
  11 Yevgeny Bareev ½
  25 Michal Krasenkov 1½  
25 Michal Krasenkov 1½  
73 Paul van der Sterren ½  
  25 Michal Krasenkov 1½
    94 Gildardo Garcia ½  
59 Emil Sutovsky ½
94 Gildardo Garcia 1½  

Section 5
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
95 Vasily Smyslov 0  
58 Alexander Morozevich 2  
  58 Alexander Morozevich ½  
    26 Lembit Oll 1½  
72 Margeir Petursson ½
26 Lembit Oll 1½  
  26 Lembit Oll 1½  
  46 Vladislav Tkachiev 2½  
80 Alexander Fominyh ½  
46 Vladislav Tkachiev 1½  
  46 Vladislav Tkachiev 3
    10 Valery Salov 1  
     
       
  46 Vladislav Tkachiev 2½
  8 Boris Gelfand 3½
88 Dibyendu Barua 2  
52 Zbyněk Hráček 3  
  52 Zbyněk Hráček ½
    17 Joël Lautier 1½  
     
       
  17 Joël Lautier 2
  8 Boris Gelfand 4  
       
       
       
           
     

Section 6
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
98 Hendrik Hoeksema ½  
64 Alexander Nenashev 1½  
  64 Alexander Nenashev ½  
    30 Alexey Dreev 1½  
     
       
  30 Alexey Dreev 1½  
  14 Matthew Sadler ½  
86 John van der Wiel ½  
48 Jaan Ehlvest 1½  
  48 Jaan Ehlvest 2
    14 Matthew Sadler 4  
     
       
  30 Alexey Dreev 3
  36 Vadim Zvjaginsev 1
       
       
  55 Grigory Kaidanov 2
    36 Vadim Zvjaginsev 4  
66 Joel Benjamin 2
36 Vadim Zvjaginsev 3  
  36 Vadim Zvjaginsev 2½
  39 Yasser Seirawan 1½  
39 Yasser Seirawan 3  
77 Ashot Anastasian 1  
  39 Yasser Seirawan 1½
    5 Vassily Ivanchuk ½  
     

Section 7
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
96 Helgi Gretarsson 1½  
62 Miguel Illescas ½  
  96 Helgi Gretarsson ½  
    32 Artur Yusupov 1½  
     
       
  32 Artur Yusupov ½  
  43 Zoltán Almási 1½  
82 Peng Xiaomin ½  
43 Zoltán Almási 1½  
  43 Zoltán Almási 1½
    13 Judit Polgár ½  
     
       
  43 Zoltán Almási 0
  2 Viswanathan Anand 2
90 Igor Glek 1½  
53 Friso Nijboer 2½  
  53 Friso Nijboer 0
    20 Alexander Khalifman 2  
     
       
  20 Alexander Khalifman 2½
  2 Viswanathan Anand 3½  
       
       
  37 Predrag Nikolić 0
    2 Viswanathan Anand 2  
     

Section 8
  First round Second round Third round Fourth round
                                     
100 Alexander Umgaev 0  
61 Viktor Bologan 2  
  61 Viktor Bologan 0  
    31 Rafael Vaganian 2  
     
       
  31 Rafael Vaganian 3  
  15 Vladimir Akopian 4  
85 Thomas Luther 3½  
50 Lajos Portisch 2½  
  85 Thomas Luther ½
    15 Vladimir Akopian 1½  
     
       
  15 Vladimir Akopian ½
  7 Alexei Shirov 1½
57 Gilberto Milos 2  
93 Niaz Murshed 0  
  57 Gilberto Milos 2
    70 Stefan Kindermann 0  
70 Stefan Kindermann 3
24 Alex Yermolinsky 2  
  57 Gilberto Milos 1½
  7 Alexei Shirov 2½  
79 Bojan Kurajica 1½  
41 Julio Granda 2½  
  41 Julio Granda ½
    7 Alexei Shirov 1½  
     

Results, rounds 5–7
Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
9 Michael Adams 2½
21 Loek van Wely 1½
9 Michael Adams 4
18 Nigel Short 3
18 Nigel Short 2
25 Michal Krasenkov 0
9 Michael Adams 4
2 Viswanathan Anand 5
8 Boris Gelfand 2½
30 Alexey Dreev 1½
8 Boris Gelfand ½
2 Viswanathan Anand 1½
2 Viswanathan Anand 1½
7 Alexei Shirov ½

Championship match

The match was played over 6 games in Lausanne, Switzerland (on January 2-3-4 and 6-7-8) and ended in a 3-3 tie. Two rapid games were then played on January 9. Karpov won both, retaining his FIDE title.

World Chess Championship Match 1998
Rating123456R1R2Points
 Anatoly Karpov (Russia)2735 10½1½0115
 Viswanathan Anand (India)2770 01½0½1003
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References
  1. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=55521
  2. "The Week in Chess 212".
  3. "World Chess Championship, 1997 FIDE Knockout Matches".
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