Karpov, Kasparov Draw 18th Chess Game

The 18th game of the world chess championship match in Moscow between champion Anatoly Karpov and challenger Gary Kasparov ended in a draw Tuesday. Kasparov retains his lead, three wins to two, in the 24-game match.

Either six wins or 12 1/2 points is needed to win the match. Kasparov now leads, 9 1/2-8 1/2, in points, and can win the match by drawing the remaining six games. If Kasparov wins, Karpov can request a rematch in early 1986.

Tuesday’s game began with the Scheveningen variation of the Sicilian Defense, Kasparov’s main choice in the match against 1 e4, but a switch from the Taimanov Sicilian which he used to win Game No. 16. Karpov handled the opening well, and gained the advantage in the early middlegame. His move 18 e5 appeared to foreshadow a mating attack on the Kingside. Surprisingly, he offered the draw at move 23, and Kasparov accepted.

Game 19 is scheduled for Thursday.

Here are the moves in Tuesday’s game.

Karpov-Kasparov 18: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 f4 0-0 9 Kh1 Qc7 10 a4 Nc6 11 Be3 Re8 12 Bf3 Rb8 13 Qd2 Bd7 14 Nb3 b6 15 Bf2 Bc8 16 Bg3 Nd7 17 Rae1 Bb7 18 e5 Rbd8 19 Qf2 Rf8 20 Be4 dxe5 21 fxe5 Nc5 22 Nxc5 bxc5 23 Bf4, Drawn.

--JACK PETERS