International Grandmaster, World Champion: 1975-85, FIDE 1993-99. After winning the World Junior Championship in 1969 Karpov soon made a strong challenge for the top title. He qualified for the 1974 Candidates' Tournament, which determined who was to challenge the reigning World Champion, Bobby Fischer. Karpov beat Polugaevsky ( +3=5) in the Candidates' match to face former World Champion Boris Spassky in the semi-final. Although Spassky was favourite and won the first game, aggressive play from Karpov secured him a match win ( +4-1=6). The Candidates' final was against fellow Soviet Viktor Korchnoi. After a nervy finish Karpov managed to win the match (+3-2=19). Thus he won the right to challenge Fischer for the World Championship. Fischer drew up a list of demands and when FIDE refused to accept them, Fischer resigned his crown. Thus Karpov in 1975 became the new World Champion.

In 1978, Karpov's first title defence was against Viktor Korchnoi. Karpov narrowly won the match (6-5, =21). Three years later Korchnoi re-emerged as the challenger. Karpov easily won a one-sided affair remembered as the "Massacre at Merano". Karpov's brilliant tournament career reached its peak at the Montreal "Tournament of Stars" in 1979, where he was =1st with Mikhail Tal. He won the Soviet Championship in 1976, 1983, and 1988. Karpov lost only two games out of 68 in Olympiad play.

In the 70's when I was a student I remember buying a copy of "The Games of Anatoly Karpov". The last event it covered was the 1974 candidates Semi-final match between Karpov and Spassky. In the edition I had this game was never included but it must have been the turning point of the whole match ! In the early middle game Spassky had held the advantage with a strong passed pawn and more active pieces. But the exchange of Queen's lead to an ending where his passed d-pawn became weak. With this ending in which he showed his supreme technique Karpov took the lead and never looked back as he made his way to the ultimate title.

(a) Basic Endings. These are theoretical positions in which we know the correct result with optimum play by both sides. They may consist of three pawns or less and also include all the non-pawn and five piece endings which have now been extensively analysed by computer and of which we have tablebases. In the days when we had adjournments some of these endings could be looked up in text books to give us some idea how to play the position. As we no longer can do this, knowledge and memory of these endings has become important in practical play. Fundamental Chess Endings (2001) by Muller and Lamprecht and Basic Endings (1992) by Balashov and Prandstetter and the earlier A Pocket Guide to Chess Endgames (1970) by David Hooper are good introductions to these endings.

(b) Practical Endings. These occur in over-the-board play where usually more pawns are present. The above ending is an example of this type. Some of these endings are in the process of being transformed to basic endings but often they finish before this stage is reached. Endgame strategy is very different from the middlegame and has its own set of rules and exceptions. Fine's book Basic Chess Endings (1941,2003) recently revised by Pal Benko and Batsford Chess Endings (1993) by Speelman, Tisdall and Wade are about basic and practical endings and both can be recommended.

(c) Endgame Studies. These are positions which have been composed and will contain elements of one or both of the above types of endings. But there are important differences between these types and the study, such as artistic form and economy of construction. An endgame study has to follow strict rules of composition, especially if it is entered into a composing competition. One of these rules states there should only be one solution. If there is an unintended second solution then the study is unsound and said to be "cooked".