Chess greats face each other after 25 years in Spain

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Chess greats face each other after 25 years in Spain

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22 September,2009 01:24 pm

The Chess greats Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov are playing an exhibition rematch marking the 25th anniversary of their first epic title clash in Spain. The former champs will play 24 speed chess games during a four-day match in Valencia, Spain. Kasparov, 46, won the world title at 22 and dominated the game for two decades. He is now an active political opponent of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Fellow Russian Karpov, 58, was reigning champion when Kasparov first challenged him in a match starting in September 1984 and spilling over into February 1985. The match was halted on health grounds with Karpov 5-3 up after 48 games. No winner was declared but Kasparov won a 1985 rematch to capture the world title. Kasparov this week called Karpov my grandmaster, the one from whom I learned most, in chess and in life. In Valencia yesterday, both said chess has lost its glamour.