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The 1978 World Chess Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi was more than a chess world championship match, it was a dramatic clash of ideologies, personalities, and playing styles. Played in the city of Merano, Italy, the match itself was a total blockbuster movie. In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the details of this historic battle.
Rivalry Between Karpov and Korchnoi
By 1978, Anatoly Karpov was firmly established as the World Champion. Having been awarded the title in 1975 after Bobby Fischer’s refused to participate in it.
Viktor Korchnoi, on the other hand, was the rebel. He is one of the greatest to never become the world champion. He is part of the three K's: Karpov Kasparov Korchnoi! Later a fourth K was added in Kramnik.
Korchnoi defected from the Soviet Union in 1976. He was a player who had a sharp and uncompromising style. His resilience at the board was absolute legendary.
Their first encounter for the world title in 1978 had been a bitter and contentious affair, filled with psychological warfare and off-the-board controversies.
The Venue and Atmosphere
Merano, a beautiful spa town in northern Italy, was chosen as the venue for the match. The surroundings were in absolute contrast to the tension inside the playing hall. Security was tight, it is mentioned that KGB was present throughout the match. KGB is to Russia what RAW is to India. Karpov represented the Soviet Union and Korchnoi, the defector, well it was high octane stuff right from the word go!
The Rules of the tournament
The match followed the traditional format, the first player to win six games would claim the title. Draws did not count toward the score. Imagine playing for eternity, there is no end if you don't win 6 games!
If you started following chess during the Vishy Anand era then you would find a 12 game match world championship where the players who reached 6.5 first would end up clinching the title. If you started watching the world championship during the recently concluded Gukesh vs Ding match then you would find a 14 game world championship match where the player who reaches 7.5 first clinches the title.
Off-the-Board Drama
The match between Karpov and Korchnoi is remembered as much for the drama surrounding the games as for the chess itself. Every aspect of the encounter, from the players’ entourages to food deliveries, became a source of contention.
Karpov’s Psychologist, Vladimir Zukhar
Karpov's team included Vladimir Petrovich Zukhar, a noted Soviet psychologist and hypnotherapist. Zukhar was present in the front row of the audience during games, allegedly to provide psychological support to Karpov. However, Korchnoi claimed that Zukhar's presence was an attempt to hypnotize and unsettle him during the match. Korchnoi even went so far as to request that Zukhar be removed from the audience, but his protests were dismissed by the organizers.
The idea of hypnosis influencing the outcome of chess games might seem far-fetched, but in the tense atmosphere of the Cold War, such accusations were taken seriously. Zukhar’s presence became a significant point of contention and was emblematic of the mistrust between the two camps.
Korchnoi’s Yoga Specialists
In response to Zukhar's perceived psychological influence, Korchnoi enlisted the help of two American members of the Ananda Marga sect, a spiritual movement that blends yoga and meditation. These individuals were not just any practitioners they had recently been convicted of attempted murder and were released on bail. Korchnoi claimed that their meditative presence provided him with focus and energy. However, their criminal background added another layer of controversy to an already contentious match.
In addition to the psychological gamesmanship, numerous bizarre incidents occurred off the board, adding to the match’s drama.
X-Raying of Chairs
Before the match began, both players' chairs were X-rayed to ensure that no electronic devices or hidden mechanisms were embedded. This precaution was taken because of Korchnoi’s suspicion that the Soviet team might use technology to help Karpov. While no devices were found, the incident really shows how paranoid and distrustful everyone was during the match.
Protests About Flags
Another controversy arose over the flags displayed on the board. Korchnoi protested against the use of the Soviet flag next to Karpov’s name, arguing that as a stateless person, he did not have a national flag displayed. This seemingly minor issue became a symbol of the broader political and ideological divide between the two players. Eventually, the flags were replaced with neutral identifiers to appease Korchnoi.
The Blueberry Yogurt Incident
One of the most infamous moments of the match involved a seemingly innocuous blueberry yogurt. During one of the games, Karpov’s team delivered him a yogurt, which he had not requested. Korchnoi’s team immediately protested, alleging that the yogurt might be a coded signal containing strategic advice. Just to elaborate this incident, it was something on the lines of the colour of the yogurt was based on the current evaluation of the position. For eg a blue colour yogurt would determine the position is better for Karpov. A yellow colour yogurt meant that the position is equal and a red would mean that there are some issues for you, deal carefully. Although this accusation was later dismissed. The protest also became a subject of laughter, with Karpov’s team suggesting it was a parody of Korchnoi's earlier complaints.
Media and Public Intrigue
The global media closely followed the match, reporting not only on the games but on every little drama that was unfolding during the event. Journalists speculated that the Soviet government was involved. There is a very special documentary called "The closing gambit" which is entirely based on this match. In it you will find a detailed explanation of the match and also thoughts from the seconds of both the teams. It's a must watch documentary.
Legacy of the Match
The final score of the match was 6–5 in Karpov’s favor. Well was is it one sided affair? Definitely not, Korchnoi was trailing by 4 games. The score was 5-1 then he came back without dropping a single game, making the score 5-5. We have seen quite similar things when Nadal or Federer are 2 sets down and somehow makes an unbelievable come back in the remaining sets. There were 21 draws out of the 32 games played. This World Championship was packed with impressive games, high-quality moves, and a fierce battle between two giants, both on and off the board. However, many consider it the dirtiest World Championship ever due to the numerous off-the-board controversies that overshadowed the chess.
What are similar matches that you can think of? Let me know in the comments section below! ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vedant Pimpalkhare is a Chess player and Coach with a FIDE rating of 2287 and a chess.com rating of well over 2750. Vedant holds the esteemed title of FIDE Instructor. Vedant has been a professional player for more than 15 years and have been coaching for the last 6 years.
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