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Chessgames.com Chess Event Description
Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates Final (1974)

Karpov qualified from the Karpov - Spassky Candidates Semifinal (1974), and Korchnoi qualified from the Korchnoi - Petrosian Candidates Semifinal (1974). This match between them in effect became a World Championship when Robert James Fischer did not defend his World Champion title the next year (see Karpov - Fischer World Championship Match (1975)). The first of three matches between the players, it followed what would be a familiar pattern: Karpov racing to a seemingly insurmountable three-point lead after 17 games, then fading late and winning by a minimal margin.

Moscow, Soviet Union (Russia), 16 September - 22 November 1974

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 
Karpov    = 1 = = = 1 = = = = = = = = = = 1 = 0 = 0 = = =  12.5
Korchnoi  = 0 = = = 0 = = = = = = = = = = 0 = 1 = 1 = = =  11.5
After Korchnoi won the following Candidates cycle in 1977-78, the Karpov - Korchnoi World Championship (1978) became these adversaries' next encounter in serious play.

Original collection: Game Collection: WCC Index (Korchnoi-Karpov 1974), by User: Suenteus Po. Pictures: http://en.chessbase.com/Portals/4/f... and http://en.chessbase.com/portals/4/f...

 page 1 of 1; 24 games  PGN Download 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½371974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA17 English
2. Karpov vs Korchnoi 1-0271974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalB77 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
3. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½571974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA17 English
4. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½451974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
5. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½671974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalE17 Queen's Indian
6. Karpov vs Korchnoi 1-0311974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC42 Petrov Defense
7. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½481974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA17 English
8. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½511974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
9. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½411974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA29 English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto
10. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½581974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
11. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½811974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalE17 Queen's Indian
12. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½231974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
13. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½961974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalE17 Queen's Indian
14. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½301974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
15. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½471974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA04 Reti Opening
16. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½671974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
17. Korchnoi vs Karpov 0-1421974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalE04 Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3
18. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½421974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC09 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line
19. Korchnoi vs Karpov 1-0791974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA45 Queen's Pawn Game
20. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½511974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalC70 Ruy Lopez
21. Korchnoi vs Karpov 1-0191974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalE17 Queen's Indian
22. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½301974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalA13 English
23. Korchnoi vs Karpov ½-½291974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalE17 Queen's Indian
24. Karpov vs Korchnoi ½-½311974Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates FinalD25 Queen's Gambit Accepted
 page 1 of 1; 24 games  PGN Download 
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Kibitzer's Corner
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Feb-26-18  Allanur: Many things can be added to the description of this event. Why is it so short? For ex: Korchoi has an entire chapter (18th chapter) dedicated to this match in his book "Chess is my life." Of course it can be rejected as "possibly biased" but at least we could add it as "according to Korhcnoi..."

Korchnoi, in his book says that he did not agree to play in Moscow, Baturinsky who was head of sports committee of the soviet union just added an additional article stating his consent to play in Mosvoc to the paper Korchnoi signed previously

Again, according to Korchnoi, the usual time for the games was 4.30 p.m but Karpov insisted on games be played at 5 o'clock for this match. Reporters opposed the idea, chess players opposed the idea, organizing committee opposed the idea, only president of the USSR chess federation supported Karpov and so was his demand accepted.

Korchnoi says all conditions of this match was made in favour of Karpov and as a reason he says "because Karpov was pure Russian, representative of a working class, was born in the centre of Russia,he was younger, he recently became a member of the communist party and the president of youth department of the party was his countrymen and friend."

According to Korchnoi's book, on the eve of the match, one of the leading soviet magazines featured Karpov's photo with a caption "I fear no one and against everyone I play for win."

There is also their interviews prior to the match in the book of Korchnoi.

Korchnoi says the federation did everything they could to put psychological pressure on Korchnoi that they managed to make Korchnoi suspect his second which was not a strong player either.

Korchnoi says All-Union Chess federation gathered a team of powerful chess players to help Karpov. Petrosian, Averbakh, Tal and Botwinnik were the ones to advise Karpov.

Korchnoi says he recieved threatining letters as well. He feared something might happpen to him in the streets.

After the match was over says Korchnoi, he shook hands with Karpov and then left the stage but the news report did not broadcast the part they shook hands, news just reported Korchnoi leaving the stage. Korchnoi comments it was done specifically to create an image of Korchnoi behaving badly.

There are many points written by Korchnoi. In short Korchnoi says organizing committee favoured Karpov and did so many injustice in favour of Karpov.

Jul-05-18  ewan14: Karpov was the Party man

Was Geller not supposed to have helped Karpov against Spassky in the semi ?

Jul-05-18  Howard: Geller, I recall, defected from Spassky just prior to the '74 Candidates. Robert Byrne mentioned it in his book on the '74 Candidates.
Jul-06-18  Howard: It was argued that back then that politics was not the only reason that most Soviets wanted Karpov to win this match.

Another reason was that should the winner go on to play Fischer and lose, at least the player who lost (Karpov or Korchnoi) would undoubtedly learn a lot about Fischer's play and thus be better prepared in the event of another match against him come, say, 1978...

...however, given Korchnoi's rather advanced age in 1974, 43, many strongly suspected that if he played Fischer in '75 this would probably be his only chance to become WC---if he lost the match, he would miss the boat completely as far as becoming WC.

But, Karpov was only 23 at the time--if HE lost to Fisher, he would have been in a much more favorable position to use any garnered knowledge for another match, come '78.

At any rate, we all know what happened. Karpov won the match and thus the right to play Bobby--he would either become WC in '75 by beating Fischer, or the '75 match would turn out to a "training" match for another assault come '78.

Seem to recall that neither of those scenarios played out though.

Jul-06-18
Premium Chessgames Member		  Joshka: <Allanur> Are you doubting the version laid out by Korchnoi?? I find it totally plausible. Thus cementing his eventual defection. Why would the Soviets side with HIM, when they have a young man 20 years his junior primed to get the title back, where it belongs!!;-)
Jul-07-18  RookFile: I don't think you get smashed by Fischer and say gee whiz, I'm more prepared for next time.
Jul-07-18
Premium Chessgames Member		  HeMateMe: Spassky would have lost even worse had he played Fischer in1975.
Apr-09-19  Everett: <HeMateMe: Spassky would have lost even worse had he played Fischer in1975>.

Fischer barely made it through game 2 in 1972. More likely that Fischer completely quits chess right after the 1972 match.

Oh, right, he did just that.

May-10-19  dkappe1: Another Leela annotation of a great match. https://lczero.libertymedia.io/2019...
May-11-19  domradave: Would have loved to have seen a Korchnoi-Fischer World Championship match!
May-11-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Joshka: <domradave> Yes, of course, imagine had Korchnoi prevailed in this match against Karpov. The outcome of professional chess might have been totally different.
Dec-27-20  Caissanist: Interesting excerpt from (I think) a translation of a Russian interview with Yuri Averbakh, covering the Karpov - Korchnoi match and Korchnoi's defection: https://www.chess.com/blog/Spektrow... .
Mar-27-22  Polonia: YO, since fischer resigned, this (was wcc: Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates Final (1974)), so karpov is world champion 1974-1985!
Mar-27-22  Polonia: YO, since fischer resigned, this was wcc: (Karpov - Korchnoi Candidates Final (1974)), so karpov is world champion 1974-1985!
Mar-27-22  Polonia: <joshka> whats up with batgirl sarah cohen? email?
Jul-04-25  Petrosianic: I've never quite understood the dynamic of this match. The Soviet authorities favored Karpov, clearly, but I'm not sure why they did unless either a) they were VERY sure that Karpov would beat Fischer, or b) very sure that Fischer wouldn't play.

Karpov was a very promising up and comer in 1974, with championship potential written all over him. But pitting him against Fischer that early might have been too much too soon. Why would you saddle him with a defeat that would follow him forever? That's what almost happened to Kasparov in 1984.

Of course there were plenty of signs that Fischer wouldn't play, not least of which was that he had already resigned the title. But Fischer had dropped out and then turned up at the last second ready to play before, as Reshevsky could tell you.

I guess what I'm saying is that if I were a Soviet authority, I'd have taken the chicken way. Hold Karpov back for next time. Let Fischer beat your troublemaker, Korchnoi. And if, in the worst case, Korchnoi becomes world champion, he's still a Soviet player. How bad is that? Karpov could take the title off him in 1978, when both he and Fischer would be weaker.

Jul-04-25  areknames: <Petrosianic:I guess what I'm saying is that if I were a Soviet authority, I'd have taken the chicken way. Hold Karpov back for next time. Let Fischer beat your troublemaker, Korchnoi. And if, in the worst case, Korchnoi becomes world champion, he's still a Soviet player. How bad is that? Karpov could take the title off him in 1978, when both he and Fischer would be weaker.>

Let's not forget that Karpov and Korchnoi were pretty evenly matched in 1974, regardless of the Soviet authorities' desires. Not sure if Karpov would have agreed to be "held back".

Jul-04-25
Premium Chessgames Member		  Williebob: Possibly Karpov beating Spassky (the current Soviet champion) decisively in their match won some hearts and minds over to the idea.

Karpov's results starting from his international debut in 1970 are pretty spectacular.
Jul-04-25
Premium Chessgames Member		  Sally Simpson: <Hi Petrosianic>

"I guess what I'm saying is that if I were a Soviet authority, I'd have taken the chicken way. Hold Karpov back for next time."

If I was the Soviet minister in charge I would have viewed it as if Fischer plays Karpov and wins Karpov gains a bucket load of experience which would be wasted on Korchnoi. Karpov was the future and it worked out well. I would have been promoted.

Jul-05-25  Petrosianic: <areknames>: <Not sure if Karpov would have agreed to be "held back".>

Oh, I don't mean they should have ordered him to lose or anything. Just not have favored him, and let the chips fall where they may.

Jul-05-25  Petrosianic: <Williebob>: <Possibly Karpov beating Spassky (the current Soviet champion) decisively in their match won some hearts and minds over to the idea.>

Maybe that's it. He beat Spassky pretty decisively, while Spassky had beaten Korchnoi decisively in their Candidates match. Arguably Karpov beat Spassky more convincingly than Fischer did, as Spassky didn't lose any games to Karpov through horrible blunders.

Jul-05-25
Premium Chessgames Member		  Ron: My conjecture: The Soviet authorities knew Korchnoi's propensities in 1974 (we are taking about the Soviet govt after all), and perhaps feared that a Korchnoi-Fischer championship match would give Korchnoi the opportunity to defect.

Korchnoi did indeed defect two years later.

Specifically, he defected in July 1976 while participating in a chess tournament in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He requested political asylum in the West and later settled in Switzerland, becoming a Swiss citizen.

Jul-05-25
Premium Chessgames Member		  Sally Simpson: <Hi Ron>

I think if the Soviet authorities suspected Korchnoi may defect in 1974 he would not have been allowed out of his house in 1976, never mind making a trip to Europe.

Korchnoi decided to defect after, amongst other issues, what happened prior too, during and after this match.

One instance. After the final game, he congratulated Karpov, shook his hand and left the stage.
The Soviet press just stated he left the stage giving readers the impression he stormed off as a bad loser.

Of course such tantrums will not be tolerated.
If he carried on with this behavior abroad he would tarnish the name of the motherland. Ban him from playing outside the U.S.S.R. (or words to that effect.)

It appears he was given a one year ban. Probably for other reasons as well.
He was let out in December 1975 to play at Hastings (1975/76) He behaved himself and was allowed to go to Amsterdam and the rest as they say...

Jul-05-25  Olavi: Korchnoi wrote in Chess is my Life that it was actually Karpov who put in a word for him and got him trips to the West. VK explains that it was starting to look like Karpov had beaten second-stringers.
Jul-05-25  Petrosianic: <Sally Simpson> <If I was the Soviet minister in charge I would have viewed it as if Fischer plays Karpov and wins Karpov gains a bucket load of experience which would be wasted on Korchnoi. Karpov was the future and it worked out well. I would have been promoted.>

I guess I'd have been sent skiing in summertime in Siberia. It certainly worked out well, but I guess it all comes down to how badly Karpov lost, if he lost at all (It's quite possible he could have beaten an out of shape Fischer).

If Karpov had lost 10-zip, he'd be a laughing stock. But that's hard to imagine. As Jude Acers said, Karpov had positively forgotten how to lose at this time.

If Karpov had lost 10-6, he would, in his very first encounter, have more victories against Fischer than ANYONE else (Spassky and Geller had 5). That would be totally respectable, and bode well for the future, especially if Fischer went into hiding again afterwards.

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