Kasparov's Championship Clincher
World Chess Championship, Moscow (Game 16)
Kasparov clinches the 1985 World Championship with a brilliant attacking game, ending Karpov's decade-long dominance and beginning the greatest rivalry in chess history.
Kasparov clinches his first World Championship title in Game 16 (1985), ending Karpov's 10-year reign.
📖 The Story
Game 16 of the 1985 World Championship was the game where 22-year-old Garry Kasparov became world champion. Karpov had held the title for 10 years. Playing a Sicilian Defense, Kasparov launched a powerful kingside attack with a knight sacrifice on d4 that shattered Karpov's structure. Karpov's position collapsed rapidly. When Kasparov won, he became the youngest world champion in history and began what would become a decade-long clash with Karpov across five world championship matches — the greatest rivalry chess has ever seen.
⚡ Key Moment — Move 22
Kasparov's pieces coordinate perfectly after the Sicilian complications. His attack on the kingside and Karpov's exposed king leave the reigning champion no defense.
🎯 Tactical Themes
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Kasparov when he beat Karpov in 1985?
Garry Kasparov was 22 years old when he won the 1985 World Championship match, becoming the youngest world champion in chess history at the time.
How many World Championship matches did Kasparov and Karpov play?
Kasparov and Karpov played five World Championship matches (1984–85, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990) — the longest and most intense rivalry in chess history.
What opening did Kasparov play in the 1985 championship game?
Kasparov played the Sicilian Defense with Black, choosing an aggressive setup that led to sharp play where his combinational genius could shine.
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