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Anatoly Karpov vs Viktor Korchnoi
Karpov - Korchnoi World Championship Match (1981), Merano ITA, rd 12, Nov-02
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense. Anglo-Grünfeld Variation (A16)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-24-07  talisman: This is the game where Korchnoi tells Karpov to "Stop squirming in your chair you snivelling little worm.". I must admit i just about fell out my chair when i read this.BBC said that that was no way to talk to a champion.Ray Keene says that suspicion remains that what was actually said(in russian) was more obscenely physical.Karpov kept his cool and offered a draw later directly and verbally to Korchnoi who started gyrating and protesting.Karpov officially complained, the complaint was upheld by the jury who issued Korchnoi a warning.It's interesting that this incident occurred right after Shamkovich(VC's second) had left.Korchnoi would win the next game but it would be his last.He also didn't win a game until Shamkovich showed up before the 6th game.
Dec-24-07  RookFile: Korchnoi never was boring, was he?
Dec-24-07  hovik2003: No, he wasn't boring at all, he was only boaring!
Dec-24-07  talisman: <RookFile> no he wasn't.i wonder what he really said.. anyway...merry xmas to both.
Apr-11-08  Knight13: <RookFile: Korchnoi never was boring, was he?> Depends on what you mean by "boring." :-D Many people find positional chess players "boring" and tactical players more "interesting" but then I have to disagree.
Jan-14-15  Howard: The complaint that Karpov filed after this particular game, turned out to be the only official complaint lodged during the match....

....quite unlike their 1978 encounter !

Jan-01-19
Premium Chessgames Member
  woldsmandriffield: Karpov grabbed the b-pawn with 31 Bd3 but Korchnoi has adequate compensation. As chess games.com likes to remind kibitzers, “rooks belong behind pawns”. 31 Qxc4 bxc4 32 Rb7 and if the Knight moves, Rc7. White rounds up the c-pawn with good winning prospects as Black is completely passive.
Mar-20-24  Messiah: <Howard: The complaint that Karpov filed after this particular game, turned out to be the only official complaint lodged during the match.>

Incredible.

Also, this game features one of the traits of chess I have never managed to understand, not even barely as in scratching the surface of any other intricacies of Caïssa: I am exaggerating, but Korchnoi plays a Bishop down the entire game, and manages to hold a draw seemingly easily. OK, I see that 17.Bf4 and 31.Bd3 could be improved (I would also think very hard about 30.fxe4 OTB, without having the luxury of checking the digital monster's output - how sad I would have already burned most of my time calculating whether 28.Bxb5 achieves anything concrete), but come on guys, that Bishop on g7 looks rather passive!

Mar-20-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fusilli: <Messiah> well, yeah, "bishop down" sounds like an exaggeration, but he did play with limited space and limited options and made it look easy. But let's remember that Korchnoi was incredibly strong in defense, tenacious as hell, and a calculating monster.

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