Anatoly Karpov

Anatoly Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster, born on May 23, 1951, in Zlatoust, Russia. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. Karpov began his professional career with the Soviet Union's national team before moving to international competitions, where he won multiple titles, including the World Chess Championship.

Karpov is known for his incredible strategic play, positional understanding, and endgame skills. He has won numerous individual awards and holds multiple records, including the most tournament wins in history.

Off the board, Karpov is also recognized for his philanthropy and influence, making significant charitable contributions and inspiring millions worldwide.

Early Career

• Start and Development: Karpov was born and raised in Zlatoust and began playing chess at a young age. He became a grandmaster in 1970.

World Chess Championship

• Early Success: Karpov won the World Chess Championship in 1975. He held the title for a decade, during which he dominated the chess world, winning numerous international tournaments.

Later Career

• Continued Success: After losing the world title in 1985, Karpov remained a top player for many years, winning numerous tournaments and finishing second in the World Championship multiple times.

Soviet Union National Team

• Debut: Made his debut for the Soviet Union national team in 1969.

Achievements:

• Olympiad: Winner in 1972, 1974, 1980, 1982, and 1986.
• World Chess Championship: Winner in 1975, 1978, 1981, and 1984.
• Karpov is one of the most successful players in the history of the Chess Olympiad and World Chess Championship.

• Play Style: Known for his strategic play, deep positional understanding, and exceptional endgame skills. Karpov is celebrated for his ability to exploit small advantages and his tenacious defense.

• Family: Karpov is married and has a son.
• Philanthropy: Karpov is involved in various charitable activities and has made significant donations for children's education and health initiatives.

• Anatoly Karpov is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for his strategic understanding, determination, and longevity in professional chess. His impact on the game and his status as an icon extend beyond the chessboard, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

World Chess Championships:

• Four-time champion

Chess Olympiads:

• Five-time winner

Most Tournament Victories:

• Over 160 victories

Books

• Karpov, A. (1991) My Best Games. London: R.H.M. Press.
• Plisetsky, D., Voronkov, S. (2005) Russians versus Fischer. London: Everyman Chess.

Websites

• FIDE: Information about Anatoly Karpov's international career and achievements. Available at: https://www.fide.com
• Chess.com: Details about Karpov's career and games. Available at: https://www.chess.com

Articles

• ChessBase: Anatoly Karpov: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.chessbase.com
• The Guardian: Anatoly Karpov's career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/anatoly-karpov

Interviews and Documentaries

• Karpov on Karpov (1991): Directed by G.B. Sosna. This documentary provides a detailed look at Karpov's life and career, featuring interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues.
• ChessBase Interviews: Various interviews and features on Anatoly Karpov, covering different aspects of his career. Available at: https://www.chessbase.com