Championship of the world of failures

The championship of the world of failures is a test intended to determine best the player of failures of the world.

First of all in an abstract way, of the matches were organized between the most famous players. One finds of it already trace at the court of Hârûn rear-Rachid with Baghdad in IXe century.

After its victory against Zukertort in 1886, Steinitz was recognized like the first “world champion”. With died of Alekhine, the International federation of the failures took in hand and structured the organization of the championship of the world.

From 1993 to 2005, following the decision of Kasparov and Shorts to play their match out of the FIDE, two cycles of “championships of the world” were organized in parallel but the reunification seems in hand.

Prehistory

period arabe
Italian-Spanish rebirth, Ruy Lopez, tournament of Madrid August 1st

Preclassical period

  • Philidor and Stamma

  • Franco-English competition: Bourdonnais - Mac Donnell

Between June and October 1834, Bourdonnais meets in Westminster club of London the British champion MacDonnell during a series of six matches. The stake was world supremacy. Bourdonnais carries it clearly (+46 -26 =13).

  • Franco-English competition ((a))

Following its victorious match against Saint-Lover in 1843, Howard Staunton declared “world champion” but its refusal to face Paul Morphy and its defeat with the tournament of London in 1851 discredit it with the eyes of the other players.
  • Tournament of London, Morphy and Anderssen

Traditional period

In 1866, London is the high place of the failures. The London clubs organize a match between Wilhelm Steinitz and Adolf Anderssen, the winner being the first to obtain 8 victories (nullities not counting).

Steinitz carries it 8 victories against 6, and proclaims world champion.

Actually, this title is not recognized by the medium of the failures, and the supremacy of Steinitz is strongly disputed in particular by Anderssen and Zukertort, but also by the memory left by Morphy which was withdrawn in New-Orleans. In 1884, Morphy dies, Anderssen having preceded it in 1879. A true championship can be organized.

Until 1945, date on which the FIDE will deal with the organization of the championship of the world, it is the champion titrates some who chooses (or accepts) his challenger and lays down his own conditions.

Steinitz

  • Steinitz - Zukertort 12,5 -7,5 (+10 -5 =5)
the winner is the first to gain 10 parts. The match takes place in three cities (New York, Saint-Louis and New-Orleans) in January - March 1886. Steinitz is regarded as a true world champion.
  • Steinitz - Tchigorine 10,5 -6,5 (+10 -6 =1)
the match is held on 20 maximum parts. It takes place with Havana in January - February 1889. Steinitz had chosen Tchigorine which had beaten it in 1882 and 1883.
  • Steinitz - Gunsberg 10,5 -8,5 (+6 -4 =9)
the match is held on 20 maximum parts. It takes place in New York in December 1890 - January 1891.
  • Steinitz - Tchigorine 12,5 -10,5 (+10 -8 =5)
Steinitz accepts a match revenge against Tchigorine which takes place with Havana in January - February 1892. The winner is the first to gain 10 parts (nullities not counting).

Lasker

The longest reign (1894-1921): Lasker defends its title six times victorieusement.
the match successively takes place from March in May 1894 in three cities: New York, Philadelphia and Montreal. The winner is the first to gain 10 parts.
  • Lasker - Steinitz 12,5 - 4,5 (+10 -2 =5)
the match revenge takes place in November 1896 - January 1897 in Moscow in the same conditions as the precedent. Steinitz which is 32 years old more than its adversary declares at the end of the match: “There are limits with the spirit of the man, but not with its madness”.
Pendant 10 years, Lasker which appears in some tournaments does not give its title concerned.
  • Lasker - Marshall 11,5 - 3,5 (+8 -0 =7)
the match takes place in six cities different from the in January United States - April 1907. The winner was to gain 8 parts. Tarrasch is regarded as one of the best experts of the failures. It could not dispute the title of Steinitz, and waited too much to defy Lasker, more young than him. The match proceeds in Düsseldorf in August - September 1908. The winner is the first to gain 8 parts.
  • Lasker - Janowski 8 -2 (+7 - 1 =2)
Lasker gives the preference to David Janowski compared to Rubinstein, judged better player. The match takes place in Paris in October - November 1909. The match proceeds on 10 parts. It is not acted in fact that of one match of official reception: indeed, being already engaged to give its title concerned vis-a-vis Carl Schlechter, Emanuel Lasker proposed in David Janowski to play this match like a match of official reception (i.e. even by losing the match, Lasker preserved the title), Janowski n the other hand agreed to be able to defy it really in championship of the world later if Emanuel Lasker kept its statute of world champion vis-a-vis Carl Schlechter (this championship of the world were actually played in 1910 after the failure of Carl Schlechter). the match takes place in Paris in January - February 1910. It makes following a challenge of Schlechter. It is not condidéré as a true championship of the world by some because Lasker had forced Schlechter to gain with two points in advance out of 10 parts. The match ends in a score of parity; Schlechter, tired, gives up in spite of the proposal of Lasker to continue.
  • Lasker - Janowski 9,5 - 1,5 (+8 -0 =3)
Lasker proposes a match revenge against Janowski in Berlin in November - December 1910 that it gains easily. The winner is the first to gain ten parts.

Capablanca

negotiations aiming at organizing a Lasker match - Jose Raul Capablanca takes 10 years (with the interlude of the First World War it is true), but Lasker refuses several proposals. The shortly after the war, Lasker, tired, plans to give up its title, but the medium of the failures wishes a match.
  • Lasker - Capablanca 5 - 9 (+0 -4 =10)
the match takes place with Havana in March 1921; the winner is the first to gain 8 parts, with a maximum of 24 parts. Demoralized, Lasker gives up on April 27th. Capablanca will impose so severe conditions that its supposed challengers (Rubinstein, Nimzovitch and Alékhine) will not be able to join together them before 6 years.
  • Capablanca - Alekhine 15,5 - 18,5 (+3 -6 =25)
the match takes place with Buenos-Surfaces in September - November 1927 in the same conditions. The match revenge never took place, Alekhine imposing in its turn of the excessive financial conditions.

Alekhine

the match is held in several German cities and Dutchwomen in September - November 1929. The winner is that which obtains the best result on 30 parts.
  • Alekhine - Bogoljubov 15,5 - 10,5 (+8 -3 =15)
the match revenge takes place in April - June 1934.
  • Alekhine - max Euwe 14,5 - 15,5 (+8 -9 =13)
the match takes place in various cities Dutchwomen in October - December 1935 in the same conditions (30 parts). Euwe, which preserved its statute of amateur, gains with the general surprise.
  • Euwe - Alekhine 9,5 - 15,5 (+4 -10 =11)
the match revenge is held again in cities Dutchwomen in October 1937, in the same conditions. Alekhine will die on March 23rd, 1946 without giving its title concerned.

Soviet hegemony

With died of Alekhine, the FIDE takes in hand the championship (tournament of the candidates and championship of the world every three years).

Botvinnik

  • Tournament-Match organized in 1948 by the FIDE in the Netherlands and in the USSR. Reuben Fine which was also invited cannot be released. Each participant meets 5 times each one of his adversaries.

  • Botvinnik - Bronstein 12-12 (+5 -5 =14)

the matches of championship of the world is envisaged on 24 parts; in the event of tie, holding it its title preserves. This first match of the post-war period takes place in Moscow in March - April 1951.

  • Botvinnik - Smyslov 12-12 (+7 -7 =10)

the match takes place in Moscow in March - April 1954; Botvinnik preserves its title.

  • Botvinnik - Smyslov 9,5-12,5 (+3 -6 =13)

the match takes place from March 5th to April 27th, 1957 in Moscow. Smyslov gains with 3 points in advance after the left 22e.

  • Smyslov - Botvinnik 10,5-12,5 (+5 -7 =11)

the FIDE admits a match revenge in the event of defeat of holding of the title in the twelve months. L is held in Moscow from March 4th to May 9th, 1958. Botvinnik recovers its title.

  • Botvinnik - Tal 8,5-12,5 (+2 -6 =13)

the match takes place in Moscow from March 15th to May 7th, 1960. Tal gains with 4 points in advance after the left 21e.

  • Tal - Botvinnik 8.-13 (+10 -5 =6)

As against Smyslov, Botvinnik recovers its title at the time of the match revenge organized from March 15th to May 12th, 1961 in Moscow.

Petrossian

The right to the match revenge in the event of defeat of holding of the title is abolished. the match takes place in Moscow from March 23rd to May 20th, 1963. the match takes place in Moscow from April 16th to June 9th, 1966.

Spassky and the Fischer interlude

  • Petrossian - Spassky 10,5-12,5 (+4 -6 =13)
the match takes place in Moscow from April 14th to June 17th, 1969. Spassky, again victorious of the tournament of the candidate, gains this time the title the match takes place in July - August 1972 with Reykjavick.

Karpov

In 1975, Fischer refuses the conditions of the match and loses her title which is decreed with Anatoly Karpov. This last had beaten Viktor Kortchnoï the previous year at the time of the finale of the tournament of the candidates 12,5-11,5 (+3 -2 =19)

  • Karpov - Kortchnoï, 16,5-15,5 (+6 -5 =21)

the match takes place with Baguio (Philippines) from July 18th to October 18th, 1978. The victory amounts to the first gaining 6 parts, the null ones not counting.

  • Karpov - Kortchnoï, 11-7 (+6 -2 =10)

the match takes place with Meran of October 1st at November 19th, 1981.

Kasparov - Karpov

First match - Moscow 1984

  • Karpov - Kasparov (+5 -3 =40)

the Kasparov challenger is qualified by beating Kortchnoï in semi-final, then Smyslov finally of the tournament of the candidates. The match takes place in Moscow which had not organized a championship of the world any more for 15 years (Petrossian-Spassky). The winner is first has to reach 6 gaining parts (the null ones not counting). The principal referee of the match is the Yugoslav GMI Svetozar Gligoric. Holding Karpov plays the white in the odd parts.

on September 10th, 1984 the first part ends in a nullity. But the beginning of the match is favorable to Karpov which 4-0 after the ninth part. The match continues with a series of 17 null before Karpov aligns a fifth point in the left 27e. To 5-0, it is at a point of the match, but Kasparov obtains its first success in the left 32e. Follows a new series of null, initially fast, then moreover in then disputed. Kasparov reverses the situation by gaining the 47e (with the blacks) and 48e left, vis-a-vis Karpov obviously exténué (5-3).

the match then is stopped, then cancelled on February 15th, 1985 by the president of the FIDE " to preserve the health of the joueurs". Mr. Campomanès, President of the FIDE was very criticized for a decision taken only and without call. It seems however that the Soviet Federation of failures has, at the very least, suggested this solution which preserved the title of Karpov, more orthodoxe than Kasparov, with respect to the Communist regime. The arranges Tass approves cancellation, whereas the Western mediums denounce a scandal.

This match for the title is longest by the duration (more than five months) and by the number of parts (48). For the following matches, one limited the number of part to 24.

Second match - Moscow 1985
  • Karpov - Kasparov , (+3 -5 =16)
the FIDE makes an invitation to tender for the organization of this match. In front of the insistence of the Soviet Federation, Mr. Campomanès chooses Moscow while at the same time the town of Marseilles had made a more interesting financial offer. Moscow will agree to be aligned on this one. Kasparov does not hesitate to criticize its own Fédération; this one prudently avoiding to take sanctions in its opposition.

the match is envisaged of 24 maximum parts, unless one of the players reaches six gaining parts. The match proceeds from September 3rd to November 9th, 1985. The referees are Bulgarian Maltchev and Soviet Mikenas. Kasparov draws the white for the odd parts.

the exit is favorable to Kasparov which gains the title by 13 to 11. Its dynamism and its creativity were right of the control and the precision of Karpov, whose lack of endurance and psychological brittleness again served it.

Third match - London/Leningrad 1986
  • Kasparov - Karpov, (+5 -4 =15)
This match revenge had been envisaged in the payment of the preceding championship of the world by the FIDE on the assumption that Karpov lost its title. This time, it is not question of playing Moscow. The match is divided between London and Leningrad. The referee is the German GMI Lothar Schmit. He is held like the precedent: the winner must obtain six gaining parts, or the best score at the conclusion of 24 parts.

the first phase is held in London from July 28th to August 27th, 1986 when Margaret Thatcher chairs the inaugural scéance Park Lane Hôtel. Karpov draws the white for the odd parts. With semi-course, Kasparov leads two victories to one.

the second phase takes place in Leningrad from September 5th to October 8th, 1986. It is animated much. Kasparov increases its advance to carry out 4-1 at the conclusion of one 16th part of anthology. But Karpov does not give up and surprises by gaining the three following parts. It equalizes on the whole of the match. Finally Kasparov will conservra its title by gaining the only one of the five last parts.

Fourth match - Seville 1987
  • Kasparov - Karpov, (+4 -4 =16)
Karpov is qualified for a new match titrates concerned by beating at the time of the super-finale of Linarès (February-March 1987) Andreï Sokolov, last applicant of the tournament of the candidates. The meeting, with best of the 16 parts, shows impressive Karpov (+4 -0 =7).

the match takes place with the theater Lope de Vega of Seville from October 2nd to December 19th, 1987 according to the same payment as the preceding meetings. The referee is Dutch Gueurt Gijssen. Karpov draws the white for the odd parts.

the match is not great level with much of faults on both sides, but the final one is spectacular and suspense is with its roof. Karpov, with the white, gains the left 23e and carries out the match 4 victories against 3. It is enough for him to cancel the last part to recover its title. Kasparov opens by Réti. With court of time, Karpov plays its last blows before the adjournment at a 4 seconds intervals per blow. At the recovery, Kasparov manages to find the fault, gains the last part and equalizes on the whole of the match. The tie enables him to preserve its title.

Fifth match - New York/Lyon 1990

Kasparov - Karpov, (+4 -3 =15)

This Karpov time had to pass by the final stage of the tournament of the candidates. It beats successively Johann Hjartarson in quarter, Arthur Youssoupov in half and Jan Timman finally. It is still impressive in this match envisaged in 12 parts by crushing its adversary 6,5-2,5 (+4 -0 =5).

the match is held in two phases from October 8th to November 7th, 1990 in Hudson Théâtre of New York, then from November 24th to December 31st, 1990 with the palate of the Congresses of Lyon. After the unhappy candidature of Marseilles, a French city obtained the organization of a championship of the world thanks to the relations échiquéennes of its mayor Michel Noir.

has semi-course the score is of one everywhere. The Lyons phase will be more enthralling. Kasparov takes little by little the advantage and obtains 12 points at the conclusion of the left 22e. It is thus sure to preserve its title. The two last parts do not have interest that for the distribution of the sums concerned. Kapov gains the 23e, but a nullity with the last offer the final victory with Kasparov (12,5-11,5).

The scission

In 1993, Nigel Short gains the right to meet Garry Kasparov by gaining the final of the candidates. Désaccods on the candidate city and the premiums cause a scission with the FIDE. Kasparov which has a dispute with the president of the FIDE, Campomanès creates its own federation, the PCA (Professional Chess Association). The two players in a Joint Declaration on February 26th, 1993 decide to organize the championship except FIDE. They are immediately excluded from the official cycle.

There will be consequently two World champions, one known as “traditional” in the line of the matches since Steinitz, the other says “FIDE” (victorious “Championship of World FIDE”), but of which holding them will be for certain players second-rate, in particular after the modification of the payment removing the triennial cycle of the matches candidates to impose a test very open by direct elimination.

World champions “traditional”

Match Kasparov - Shorts
the match is held in London from September 7th to October 20th, 1993 with best of the 24 parts. The referee is Youri Averbakh
Kasparov carries it easily 12,5-7,5 (+6 -1 =13)
Match Kasparov - Anand
the match was preceded by a cycle qualifier. It is held in New York from September 11th to October 10th, 1995 with best of the 20 parts.
Kasparov carries it before the limit per 10,5 to 7,5

Kasparov match - Kramnik

Kasparov leaves its crown to its challenger after 18 years of reign. Kramnik carries it 8,5-6,5

Kramnik-Leko match
the match takes place with Brissago in Switzerland from September 25th to October 18th, 2004, with best of the 14 parts. Rate is of 40 blows in 2 hours, follow-up of 20 blows in one hour, then possibly of 15 mn + 30sec. by blow.
Kramnik - Lékó 7-7 (+2 -2 =10)
the tie makes it possible Kramnik to preserve its world title.

the match is rather disappointing because of many null parts with 20/25 blows. Kramnik gains the first part with the blacks; Leko equalizes with 5th, then takes the advantage with 8th. With 12th, Leko does not push an advantage finally. 13th is a nullity of combat in 65 blows. Kramnik in extremis will equalize with the last part out of preserve its title.

World champions FIDE

Match Karpov - Timman
In same time that is held the traditional championship, the FIDE decides to oppose title concerned from October 6th to December 1st, 1993 Timman and Karpov which were eliminated by Short at the time of the matches candidates respectively finally and semi-final. The match takes place with best of the 24 parts, initially in various cities of Country-have, then in Djakarta after the defection, at the last minute, of the Sultanate of Oman.
Karpov is essential 12,5-8,5 (+6 -2 =13) under conditions which do not make honor with the FIDE.

Match Karpov - Kamsky
For this cycle 94-96, it holding, Karpov is integrated directly in semi-final where it finds Kamsky (victorious of Anand 4-4, then 2-0 with decides between), Gelfand (victorious of Kramnik (4,5-3,5) and Salov (victorious of Timman (4,5-3,5)
In semi-final, Kramsky is demolished easily of Salov (5,5-1,5) and Karpov de Gelfand (6-3)
the final, one moment envisaged in Baghdad (what had déclanché a vague policy with the risk of a defection of the challenger) the place finally with Elista from June 6th to July 10th, 1996, with best of the 20 parts.
Karpov overrides Kamsky 10,5-7,5 (+6 -3 =9)

Match Karpov - Anand
cycle 97-98 envisaged to integrate directly in semi-finals both champion Karpov and Kasparov. This last refuses to take part in this championship, just as Kramnik.
the qualificative phase is held in December/January 1998 with Groningue by direct elimination (2 slow parts, followed possible rapids for decides between. Anand is qualified after seven turns where it had to eliminate some from the best Chirov players, Gelfand and in particular Adams at the time of a blitz of decide between.
It meets in February 1998 in Lausanne, Karpov directly qualified for the final (because of the fixed price of Kasparov). The match proceeds with best of the six parts. With equality at the conclusion of those 3-3 (+2 -2 =2), it is with decides between into semi-rapid that Karpov preserves its championship of world 2-0, in front of Anand, obviously exténué.

Championship 1999 in Las Vegas
As for the preceding championship, the world champion is indicated following a tournament with direct elimination (known as with the KB). This time, the FIDE does not grant any preferential treatment to holding which owes I: ntégrer with the competition as of the 2nd turn. Karpov refuses to be subjected to these new rules and gives up its title.
the tournament takes place with Las Vegas: Finally, Khalifman beats Akopian

Championship 2000 in Teheran
This championship was held in New-Delhi, then to Teheran according to a formula crosses to direct elimination - 128 paticipants
Finale: Anand - Chirov 3,5-0,5 (+3 -0 =1)

Championship 2002 in Moscow

See also: Championship of the World of the International federation of the failures 2002

This championship was held from February 15th to 25th 2002 in Moscow. It brings together 128 participants according to the same formula in direct elimination.
Kasparov and Kramnik declined the invitation. As for Karpov which had agreed to take part it is beaten without glory with the first turn by Chinese Zhang Pengxiang.
Final: Ponomariov beats Ivanchuk 4,5 to 2,5

Championship 2004 in Tripoli
the championship takes place in Libya from June 18th to July 13rd, 2004. The players israëliens, considered as persona non grata , do not obtain a visa, which involves the boycott of the competition of players of foreground (Anand, Svidler, Kramnik) and of holding Ruslan Ponomariov. The tournament is played at unusual rate of 40 blows in 90 minutes, follow-up 15 minutes to conclude.
Finally Kasimdzhanov beats Adams 4,5-3,5

Championship 2005 at San Luis

See also: Championship of the World of the International federation of the failures 2005

Tournament of San Luis in Argentina of the 27 sepembre at October 14th, 2005: victorious Topalov
Pour this championship the FIDE changes formula. It becomes a tournament double round between the 8 best players mondiaux.
Topalov carries it by obtaining the score of 10 out of 14 possible.

Reunification

The Kramnik-Topalov match

See also: Championship of the World of the International federation of the failures 2006

In September - October 2006, a match of reunification took place between the “traditional” world champion and world champion FIDE with Elista.

  • Kramnik - Topalov 8,5 - 7,5 (+5 -4 =7)
The players were with equality at the conclusion of the 12 parts envisaged (6 - 6); the result was thus obtained after 4 fast parts of decides between.

Championship of the world 2007

The championship of the world 2007 of FIDE was held in September 2007 with the Mexico in the form of a tournament doubles round and joined together Vladimir Kramnik, world champion in title, Viswanathan Anand, Peter Svidler and Alexander Morozevich (2nd, 3rd and 4th of championship FIDE 2005), like 4 players qualified by the Tournoi of the candidates: Levon Aronian, Boris Gelfand, Peter Leko and Alexander Grischuk.

The tournament is gained by Viswanathan Anand (which remains unconquered) in front of Kramnik and Gelfand. The Indian becomes thus the 15th single world champion.

See also: Championship of the World of the International federation of the failures 2007

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