Karpov – Kasparov World Championship Match 1986

dates: 28 July–8 October 1986
location: London, United Kingdom, and Leningrad, Soviet Union
score: 11½–12½ (Karpov–Kasparov)
winner: Garry Kasparov

The plaque at London’s Park Lane Hotel commemorating the 1986 championship’s London half, photographed in 2012. Photo: Lovuschka.

Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov met for the third time in a world championship match in 1986. Kasparov had taken the title in November 1985, but the match agreement gave Karpov a return contest. The first twelve games took place in London and the remaining twelve in Leningrad, bringing the rivalry to two different venues.

The champion built a three-point lead by winning game 16, only for Karpov to win games 17, 18 and 19 in succession. That sequence erased the advantage and made the final five games decisive. Kasparov recovered with a win in game 22 and secured the title with draws in the last two games, finishing 12½–11½.

Study the contrast between the two halves of the match: the London games established the initial lead, while the Leningrad games tested how each player responded to a sudden change in momentum. Queen’s-pawn openings dominate the collection, alongside sharp Sicilian encounters. The drawn games are part of that story and remain available from either side.

Anatoly Karpov's Profile Garry Kasparov's Profile

Match results

Karpov – Kasparov World Championship Match 1986 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Game 12	Game 13	Game 14	Game 15	Game 16	Game 17	Game 18	Game 19	Game 20	Game 21	Game 22	Game 23	Game 24	Points
Anatoly Karpov	0½	0½	0½	0	1	0½	0½	0	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0	0½	0	1	1	1	0½	0½	0	0½	0½	11½
Garry Kasparov	0½	0½	0½	1	0	0½	0½	1	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	1	0½	1	0	0	0	0½	0½	1	0½	0½	12½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 24.

Completed 0 / 24

Game 1: Grünfeld Defence: a 21-move draw

Game 1 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D92). The game was drawn after 21 moves. The running score was 0½–0½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	21	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Nimzo-Indian Defence: a 52-move draw

Game 2 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5, reaching nimzo-indian defence play (E21). The game was drawn after 52 moves. The running score was 1–1 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: King’s Indian Defence: a 35-move draw

Game 3 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c6, reaching king’s indian defence play (E60). The game was drawn after 35 moves. The running score was 1½–1½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Nimzo-Indian Defence: Kasparov wins with White

Game 4 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5, reaching nimzo-indian defence play (E21). Garry Kasparov won with White after 41 moves. The running score was 1½–2½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Grünfeld Defence: Karpov wins with White

Game 5 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D82). Anatoly Karpov won with White after 32 moves. The running score was 2½–2½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Open game: a 42-move draw

Game 6 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4, reaching open game play (C42). The game was drawn after 42 moves. The running score was 3–3 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Queen’s Gambit Declined: a 43-move draw

Game 7 began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5, reaching queen’s gambit declined play (D31). The game was drawn after 43 moves. The running score was 3½–3½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Queen’s Gambit Declined: Kasparov wins with White

Game 8 began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5, reaching queen’s gambit declined play (D31). Garry Kasparov won with White after 31 moves. The running score was 3½–4½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Grünfeld Defence: a 20-move draw

Game 9 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D82). The game was drawn after 20 moves. The running score was 4–5 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	20	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Queen’s Gambit Declined: a 43-move draw

Game 10 began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6, reaching queen’s gambit declined play (D55). The game was drawn after 43 moves. The running score was 4½–5½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Grünfeld Defence: a 41-move draw

Game 11 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D82). The game was drawn after 41 moves. The running score was 5–6 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Queen’s Gambit Declined: a 34-move draw

Game 12 began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6, reaching queen’s gambit declined play (D55). The game was drawn after 34 moves. The running score was 5½–6½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	34	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: King’s Indian Defence: a 40-move draw

Game 13 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c6, reaching king’s indian defence play (E60). The game was drawn after 40 moves. The running score was 6–7 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	40	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Ruy Lopez: Kasparov wins with White

Game 14 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, reaching ruy lopez play (C92). Garry Kasparov won with White after 48 moves. The running score was 6–8 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	48	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Grünfeld Defence: a 29-move draw

Game 15 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D98). The game was drawn after 29 moves. The running score was 6½–8½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Kasparov opens a three-point lead

Game 16 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, reaching ruy lopez play (C92). Garry Kasparov won with White after 41 moves. The running score was 6½–9½ (Karpov–Kasparov). Kasparov now led by three points with eight games left. This is the high point of his lead before Karpov’s three-game comeback.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Karpov begins his comeback

Game 17 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D98). Anatoly Karpov won with White after 31 moves. The running score was 7½–9½ (Karpov–Kasparov). Karpov’s first win of the Leningrad half began a run of three consecutive victories. Compare this White game with his Black win in the next round.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: A second consecutive win for Karpov

Game 18 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb4, reaching queen’s indian defence play (E12). Anatoly Karpov won with Black after 58 moves. The running score was 8½–9½ (Karpov–Kasparov). Winning with Black brought Karpov within one point. The changing colours make this a useful companion to his White wins in games 17 and 19.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 0-1	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: The match is level again

Game 19 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7, reaching grünfeld defence play (D97). Anatoly Karpov won with White after 41 moves. The running score was 9½–9½ (Karpov–Kasparov). Karpov completed three consecutive wins and erased the entire three-point deficit. Five games remained with the score level.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Catalan structures: a 21-move draw

Game 20 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7, reaching catalan structures play (E06). The game was drawn after 21 moves. The running score was 10–10 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	21	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 21: Queen’s Indian Defence: a 49-move draw

Game 21 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6, reaching queen’s indian defence play (E15). The game was drawn after 49 moves. The running score was 10½–10½ (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	49	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 22: Kasparov regains the lead

Game 22 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7, reaching queen’s gambit declined play (D55). Garry Kasparov won with White after 46 moves. The running score was 10½–11½ (Karpov–Kasparov). After two draws, Kasparov broke the tie again. Karpov then needed a win in one of the final two games to avoid losing the match.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1-0	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 23: English Opening: a 38-move draw

Game 23 began 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7, reaching english opening play (A15). The game was drawn after 38 moves. The running score was 11–12 (Karpov–Kasparov).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Anatoly Karpov – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 24: The champion retains his title

Game 24 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7, reaching queen’s indian defence play (E16). The game was drawn after 41 moves. The running score was 11½–12½ (Karpov–Kasparov). The final draw confirmed Kasparov’s one-point match victory. The title defence ended after all twenty-four scheduled games.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Anatoly Karpov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Rematch	1986	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

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By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-12

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