Kamsky     Karpov



  1.  d2-d4     Ng8-f6



  2.  c2-c4      e7-e6



  3. Ng1-f3      b7-b6



  4.  g2-g3     Bc8-a6



  5.  b2-b3     Bf8-b4



  6. Bc1-d2     Bb4-e7



  7. Bf1-g2      c7-c6



  8. Bd2-c3      d7-d5



  9. Nf3-e5     O-O



 10. O-O        Ba6-b7



 11. Nb1-d2     Nb8-a6



 12.  e2-e4      c6-c5



 13.  e4xd5      e6xd5



 14. Rf1-e1      c5xd4



 15. Bc3xd4     Na6-c5



 16. Ne5-g4      d5xc4



 17. Nd2xc4     Bb7xg2



 18. Kg1xg2     Nf6xg4



 19. Qd1xg4     Be7-f6



 20. Ra1-d1      h7-h5



 21. Bd4xf6      h5xg4



 22. Bf6xd8     Ra8xd8



 23. Nc4-e3     Nc5-d3



 24. Re1-e2     Nd3-e5



 25. Re2-d2     Rd8xd2



 26. Rd1xd2      g7-g6



 27.  h2-h3      g4xh3



 28. Kg2xh3     Rf8-e8



 29. Kh3-g2     Kg8-f8



 30.  f2-f4     Ne5-c6



 31. Kg2-f3     Re8-e6



 32.  g3-g4      b6-b5



 33. Rd2-d7     Kf8-e8



 34. Rd7-d1     Nc6-e7



 35.  f4-f5      g6xf5



 36.  g4xf5     Re6-c6



 37. Kf3-e4     Ne7-g8



 38. Ke4-e5     Rc6-a6



 39. Rd1-d2     Ng8-f6



 40. Rd2-c2     Ke8-d8



 41. Ke5-d4     Ra6-b6

     Kamsky     Karpov



 42. Kd4-c5      b5-b4



 43. Kc5-d4     Rb6-d6



 44. Kd4-e5     Rd6-a6



 45. Ne3-c4     Kd8-e7



 46. Rc2-e2     Nf6-d7



 47. Ke5-f4+    Ke7-f6



 48. Re2-d2     Kf6-e7



 49. Rd2-h2     Nd7-b6



 50. Rh2-e2+    Ke7-f8



 51. Nc4-e3     Ra6-a5



 52. Kf4-e4     Kf8-e7



 53. Re2-c2     Ke7-d6



 54. Ke4-d4     Kd6-d7



 55. Kd4-e4     Kd7-d6



 56. Rc2-d2+    Kd6-e7



 57. Ne3-g4      f7-f6



 58. Ng4-e3     Ra5-e5



 59. Ke4-f4     Re5-a5



 60. Kf4-g4     Ra5-e5



 61. Kg4-f3     Re5-a5



 62. Rd2-h2     Ke7-e8



 63. Kf3-e4     Ra5-e5



 64. Ke4-d4     Re5-a5



 65. Kd4-e4     Ra5-e5



 66. Ke4-f4     Re5-a5



 67. Kf4-g4     Ke8-e7



 68. Rh2-d2     Ra5-e5



 69. Rd2-d3     Ke7-f7



 70. Kg4-f4     Re5-a5



 71. Rd3-d6     Kf7-e7



 72. Rd6-e6+    Ke7-f7



 73. Re6-e4     Ra5xa2



 74. Re4xb4     Ra2-a5



 75. Kf4-f3     Ra5-e5



 76. Rb4-d4     Re5-b5



 77. Rd4-d3     Nb6-c8



 78. Ne3-d5     Nc8-e7



 79. Nd5xe7     Kf7xe7



 80. Kf3-g4      a7-a5



     Draw

Taking the a-pawn off the second rank (so that any rook check will have less effect), and perhaps preparing to exchange another pair of pawns.

At this point, the challenger recognized that he could pose no more problems for the world champion.

DRAW AGREED

Karpov wins, 10 1/2 - 7 1/2!

One of the hardest-fought matches in recent times. The games may not have been sparkling, but they were real, down-and-dirty sporting contests. In a match of limited duration, the older (more experienced) player prevailed.

The extended play of Games Seventeen and Eighteen may have sent a signal: Kamsky probably expects to play in a title match again (either against Karpov or Kasparov). By playing to the bitter end (unlike Anand in New York last year), Gata is telling his future opponent(s): "I will play...and play...and play some more, until all chances are extinguished. If you cannot stay with me, I will win..."

Some of my games against Fischer were lost in similar fashion (because of his great will to win). I found myself looking for a shortcut to make a draw, rather than simply playing the game to its natural (extended) conclusion. Long games give ample chances for simple mistakes.

The quality of the games was much higher earlier in the match, when both sides were striving to win.

Congratulations to Anatoly Karpov, on retaining his FIDE title. His next opponent (either Kasparov, or another challenger in the FIDE cycle) will have a very difficult time.

By the way...

GM Arthur Bisguier will be one of the staff members at the 1996 Castle Chess Camp, starting July 21 and running through July 28 in Bradford, Pa. For more info, contact Robert Ferguson at (814) 368-4974.

Editor's Note - With this draw, the match score is Karpov 10.5, Kamsky 7.5, and the CHAMPIONSHIP IS OVER! Congratulations to GM Anatoly Karpov, who retains his title.

It has been a pleasure to present this realtime coverage. We look forward to the opportunity to do it again in the future. We would like to thank Mon. Cristophe Bouton in Elista, GM Arthur Bisguier, GM Gabriel Schwartzman, GM Walter Browne, IM John Grefe, SM Ron Burnett, USCF Assistant Directors Eric Johnson and Brian Bugbee, and Director of Operations George Filippone, all of whom worked together to make this coverage possible.

--- Addie and Gary Prince, USCF Webmasters