Karpov Asks to Resume World Title Chess Match

World chess champion Anatoly Karpov today called for immediate resumption of his title match against Garri Kasparov, which was abruptly broken off last week, and insisted he is fit enough to play.

“I want to start again as fast as possible so nobody can say time helped me regain strength,” said Karpov, who was reported on the verge of a nervous breakdown when the match was ordered halted by the president of the International Chess Federation.

Karpov, 33, visited Reuters’ Moscow office to make public a letter he said he had written to the federation chief, Florencio Campomanes, complaining about his decision last Friday to halt the five-month-old duel.

“I’m unhappy at the move,” the champion said.

Soviets Asked Recess

He also revealed that the Soviet Chess Federation had asked for a recess in the match but said no one had requested that the contest be halted.

The challenger was not immediately available for comment today, but his aides said they were suspicious of Karpov’s latest statements.

One suggested Karpov was trying to repair the damage done to his reputation by the request for a halt in play just as Kasparov was coming on strong.

The match is due to start again, from scratch, on Sept. 21.

Karpov asked Campomanes to consent to resume play as soon as possible.

He said everyone was unhappy with the decision by Campomanes, who had been summoned to Moscow by the organizers of the all-Soviet championship.

At a Moscow press conference last Friday, Kasparov sharply criticized Campomanes and his decision, embarrassing Soviet officials.

Though Karpov was only one win away from the six necessary to clinch the title, Kasparov had staged a comeback, winning two games in a row and cutting the champion’s one-time 5-0 lead to 5-3.