Kasparov – Anand World Championship Match 1995

dates: 11 September–10 October 1995
location: World Trade Center, New York City, United States
score: 10½–7½ (Kasparov–Anand)
winner: Garry Kasparov

Kasparov and Anand at their 1995 World Championship match at the World Trade Center. Photo: Copyright 2007, S.M.S.I., Inc. - Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agency.

Viswanathan Anand challenged Garry Kasparov for the Professional Chess Association world title in New York in 1995. The match was held at the World Trade Center. Anand’s speed and tactical skill offered a new test for Kasparov after the champion’s long rivalry with Karpov and his 1993 defence against Short.

Eight consecutive draws kept the match level before Anand won game 9. Kasparov responded by winning four of the next five games: 10, 11, 13 and 14. That burst changed the match decisively. Four subsequent draws completed an eighteen-game contest, with Kasparov retaining the classical title by 10½–7½.

Compare the openings around the turning point: Anand’s Sicilian victory in game 9, Kasparov’s Ruy Lopez response in game 10, and the champion’s use of the Sicilian Dragon with Black. Study the entire sequence from either side to follow both the preparation and the practical defence after the score changed.

Garry Kasparov's Profile Viswanathan Anand's Profile

Match results

Kasparov – Anand World Championship Match 1995 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	Points
Garry Kasparov	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0	1	1	0½	1	1	0½	0½	0½	0½	10½
Viswanathan Anand	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	1	0	0	0½	0	0	0½	0½	0½	0½	7½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 18.

Completed 0 / 18

Game 1: Sicilian Defence: a 27-move draw

Game 1 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). The game was drawn after 27 moves. The running score was 0½–0½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Nimzo-Indian Defence: a 29-move draw

Game 2 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5, reaching nimzo-indian defence play (E34). The game was drawn after 29 moves. The running score was 1–1 (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Sicilian Defence: a 36-move draw

Game 3 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). The game was drawn after 36 moves. The running score was 1½–1½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	36	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: English Opening: a 21-move draw

Game 4 began 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 O-O, reaching english opening play (A17). The game was drawn after 21 moves. The running score was 2–2 (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	21	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Sicilian Defence: a 27-move draw

Game 5 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). The game was drawn after 27 moves. The running score was 2½–2½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	27	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Ruy Lopez: a 28-move draw

Game 6 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, reaching ruy lopez play (C80). The game was drawn after 28 moves. The running score was 3–3 (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	28	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Sicilian Defence: a 25-move draw

Game 7 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). The game was drawn after 25 moves. The running score was 3½–3½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Open game: a 22-move draw

Game 8 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching open game play (C45). The game was drawn after 22 moves. The running score was 4–4 (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	22	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Anand breaks eight opening draws

Game 9 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). Viswanathan Anand won with White after 35 moves. The running score was 4–5 (Kasparov–Anand). Anand took the first lead after eight consecutive draws. The next five games would reverse the direction of the match.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1-0	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Kasparov answers immediately

Game 10 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, reaching ruy lopez play (C80). Garry Kasparov won with White after 38 moves. The running score was 5–5 (Kasparov–Anand). Kasparov levelled the score immediately with White in the Ruy Lopez. Compare this response with the Sicilian defeat he had suffered one round earlier.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: The Dragon puts Kasparov ahead

Game 11 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B78). Garry Kasparov won with Black after 31 moves. The running score was 6–5 (Kasparov–Anand). The Sicilian Dragon brought Kasparov his first Black win and the match lead. Its pawn structure offers a sharp contrast to the Scheveningen positions used earlier.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Ruy Lopez: a 43-move draw

Game 12 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, reaching ruy lopez play (C78). The game was drawn after 43 moves. The running score was 6½–5½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	43	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Another Black win extends the lead

Game 13 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B77). Garry Kasparov won with Black after 25 moves. The running score was 7½–5½ (Kasparov–Anand). Kasparov won with Black for the second time in three games. Anand now faced a two-point deficit.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Kasparov’s decisive surge continues

Game 14 began 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6, reaching king’s-pawn opening play (B01). Garry Kasparov won with White after 41 moves. The running score was 8½–5½ (Kasparov–Anand). This completed Kasparov’s four wins in five games. The remaining four games were drawn, preserving the three-point margin.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1-0	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Sicilian Defence: a 16-move draw

Game 15 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B76). The game was drawn after 16 moves. The running score was 9–6 (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	16	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Sicilian Defence: a 20-move draw

Game 16 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). The game was drawn after 20 moves. The running score was 9½–6½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	20	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Sicilian Defence: a 63-move draw

Game 17 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B77). The game was drawn after 63 moves. The running score was 10–7 (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	63	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: The classical champion retains his title

Game 18 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching sicilian defence play (B84). The game was drawn after 12 moves. The running score was 10½–7½ (Kasparov–Anand).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Kasparov - Anand PCA World Championship Match	1995	12	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-12

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