#12 World Chess Champion
Anatoly Karpov – 12th World Chess Champion
A master of positional play and prophylaxis, Karpov defined an era of chess with quiet domination, relentless pressure, and unparalleled strategic clarity.
- Country: Soviet Union
- Title reign: 1975–1985
- Style: Positional control, prophylaxis, endgame mastery
Overview
Anatoly Karpov became World Chess Champion in 1975 following Bobby Fischer’s withdrawal, but quickly proved himself a worthy and dominant champion through his results. His style emphasized control, prevention, and incremental improvement of position.
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Karpov was the central figure in world chess, winning an extraordinary number of elite tournaments and setting new standards for positional precision and consistency.
World Championship highlights
- Became World Champion in 1975 after Bobby Fischer declined to defend his title.
- Successfully defended the World Championship in tournament format in 1978 and 1981.
- Fought a historic series of matches against Garry Kasparov between 1984 and 1990, one of the greatest rivalries in chess history.
- Held the World Championship title for a full decade, one of the longest reigns ever.
Playing style & legacy
Karpov’s style was based on deep understanding of position, prophylactic thinking, and endgame technique. He often won games without spectacular tactics, instead slowly restricting his opponents until collapse was inevitable.
His influence on chess theory and pedagogy remains immense. Many modern positional concepts — especially in queenless middlegames — trace their roots to Karpov’s play, and his rivalry with Kasparov defined an entire generation of chess history.