Timman: The Longest Game - The Five Kasparov - Karpov Matches for the World Chess Championship

Autor: Timman, Jan
Verlag / Hersteller: New in Chess
Erscheinungsjahr: 2019
Sprache: Englisch
Buchumschlag: hardcover
Seiten: 365

Inside the Greatest Rivalry: The Five World Championship Matches Between Kasparov and Karpov

Jan Timman's The Longest Game documents one of chess history's most dramatic sagas: the five World Championship matches between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov between 1984 and 1990. Over six years, these two titans played 144 games and moved 5,540 pieces across the board.

Timman, a former World Championship Candidate and acclaimed author, combines detailed game analysis with behind-the-scenes insights from this era. The book captures both the chess brilliance and the political dimensions of their rivalry, from the infamous first match halted after five months to Kasparov's emergence as the youngest World Champion in history.

Suited for intermediate to advanced players, this work offers both historical perspective and instructive chess content drawn from one of the fiercest rivalries in sports.

Highlights

• Complete coverage of all five championship encounters, with fresh analysis of the 144 games played
• Insider perspective from Timman, a leading Grandmaster who witnessed these matches firsthand
• Historical context of the Cold War era, when the matches transcended sport to become symbols of Soviet politics
• Instructive examination of attacking chess and strategic innovation displayed across the matches
• The dramatic narrative arc from the first match's controversial stoppage to Kasparov's four successive title defenses

A definitive account of world championship chess at the highest level, combining rigorous game analysis with the human drama that made this rivalry unforgettable.

FAQ

What period do these five matches cover, and how many games are analyzed?
The matches span from September 1984 to 1990. Over this six-year period, Kasparov and Karpov played 144 games containing 5,540 total moves, all of which are examined in the book.

Why was the first match stopped, and how did it affect the outcome of their rivalry?
FIDE President Florencio Campomanes halted the first match after five months, citing exhaustion of both players. The interruption proved pivotal: in the rematch, the 22-year-old Kasparov defeated Karpov to become the youngest World Champion in history. Kasparov then successfully defended his title in three additional matches.

What makes Jan Timman's perspective on these matches particularly valuable?
Timman was a leading Grandmaster during this era and a World Championship Candidate himself, giving him insider access and understanding of the chess and political dimensions of the rivalry. He combines rigorous game analysis with behind-the-scenes impressions unavailable in standard historical accounts.