World Championship, Seville 1987

Kasparov-Karpov, fourth match. The most dramatic of their five championship encounters. Kasparov trailed, then equalized on the final day to retain the title by the narrowest possible margin.

The Final Day Drama

The fourth Kasparov-Karpov World Championship match, played in Seville, was the most dramatic of their epic series. After 22 of 24 games, Karpov led 12-11 (under the system where the champion retained the title in case of a 12-12 draw). Kasparov needed to win one of the final two games to retain the title; Karpov needed only one draw.

Game 23 was drawn. Everything came down to Game 24. Kasparov, playing with white, produced one of the great pressure performances in chess history, grinding out a victory in a Catalan Opening to level the match 12-12. Under the rules, the champion (Kasparov) retained the title.

The match had swung wildly: Kasparov led early, Karpov surged ahead, and the final game decided everything. It remains one of the most tense and celebrated moments in World Championship history.