Classical World Chess Championship 1995
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The Classical World Chess Championship 1995, also known as the PCA World Chess Championship 1995, was held from September 10, 1995 - October 16, 1995 in New York, United States. Garry Kasparov, the defending champion, played Viswanathan Anand, the challenger, in a twenty game match. Kasparov won the match with 4 wins, 1 loss, and 13 draws.
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[edit] Background
In 1993, the reigning FIDE World Chess Champion, Gary Kasparov decided to split from FIDE because he felt the organisation was corrupt, and formed a rival organisation, the PCA (Professional Chess Association). In response, FIDE stripped Kasparov of his status and organised an event to determine a new champion - this event was won by Karpov.
Kasparov claimed that, as he had not been defeated by a challenger to his title in a match, and in fact had defeated the rightful challenger (Nigel Short in 1993), that he was still the reigning world champion.
Thus, for the first time since the formation of FIDE, the Chess World Championship title became a disputed matter.
The PCA Classical World Chess Championship 1995 was the first defence for Kasparov of his title since the split with FIDE in 1993.
[edit] Qualification
The PCA held an Interzonal and Candidates matches in 1993-1995.
[edit] The games
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anand 2725 +13 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7.5/18 |
| Kasparov 2795 -32 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 10.5/18 |
The match began with eight consecutive draws. In game 9 Anand, with white, broke through Kasparov's Sicilian Scheveningen defence to win. Kasparov hit back immediately in game 10, with a novelty in the Ruy Lopez Open Defence.
Game 11 was arguably the turning point in the match. Kasparov sprung a major surprise by playing the Sicilian Dragon with black - a once-popular defence which is now only played at the top level by a few specialists. Anand missed a comparatively simple combination and lost. After a draw in game 12, Anand again played weakly against the Dragon in game 13, losing again with white to go two points down.
When Anand lost game 14, Kasparov had a commanding 8.5-5.5 lead and the match was effectively over. The players drew their remaining games.
For a match report, see Special Report to ICC--Kasparov Wins Match by Leigh Walker and Brian Karen.
