The Turning Point: Kasparov vs. Karpov – 1985 World Chess Championship, Game 24

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The 1985 World Chess Championship witnessed one of the greatest battles in chess history between two titans: Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. Game 24 became a defining moment, as Kasparov defeated Karpov to become the youngest World Chess Champion in history at just 22 years old. This game not only cemented Kasparov’s legacy but also marked the beginning of a new era in chess.

This is the first post in a series covering pivotal games from World Chess Championships. In each post, we'll analyze critical turning points that shaped the history of chess. We'll be following this theme in chronological order, leading up to the World Championship in November 2024. Stay tuned for more historic matches that defined the legacy of chess!

The Opening: Sicilian Defense

Kasparov opened with 1. e4, and Karpov responded with 1... c5, signaling the start of the Sicilian Defense. The game quickly transitioned into the Scheveningen Variation, a sharp and aggressive line that fit Kasparov’s dynamic style perfectly. This opening led to unbalanced play, a hallmark of Kasparov’s success throughout the match.

The Middlegame: Kasparov's Dynamic Tactics

The middlegame saw Kasparov’s aggressive play come to the forefront. With sharp tactical ideas and a powerful pawn sacrifice, he kept Karpov on the defensive. By move 24, Kasparov had established a strong initiative on the queenside, forcing Karpov to focus on defense rather than his usual positional control. This was a defining feature of Kasparov’s approach to the game, always pushing for more activity and initiative.

The Endgame: Karpov Cracks Under Pressure

As the game transitioned into the endgame, Karpov found himself under tremendous pressure. Kasparov’s pieces were perfectly coordinated, and Karpov’s attempt at counterplay was too little, too late. On move 42, Karpov resigned, realizing that Kasparov’s attack was unstoppable. With this victory, Kasparov became the youngest World Champion in chess history.

Play through the Game

Key Moments and Lessons

  • Kasparov's dynamic and aggressive style defined his play in this game, showing the power of constantly pushing for the initiative.
  • By sacrificing a pawn in the middlegame, Kasparov gained control of critical squares and forced Karpov into a passive defense.
  • This game illustrated the importance of coordination between pieces in the endgame, as Kasparov’s attack proved too powerful for Karpov to counter.

This game not only crowned Kasparov as the youngest-ever World Chess Champion but also symbolized the dawn of a new era in chess. Stay tuned for the next post in our series, where we’ll examine another critical game that changed the course of chess history.

Interested in more legendary chess battles? Check out Interested in more exciting chess analyses? Check out Gukesh and Ding showdown from the 2024 Tata Steel. In our upcoming posts in this series as we dive deeper into the historical World Championship matches, leading up to the November 2024 World Championship.