Kasparov Says Former Aide May Have Given Secrets to Karpov

World chess champion Gary Kasparov said Friday that two aides left him during his title match against Anatoly Karpov, and he indicated that one of them might have given away secrets.

Kasparov told a news conference that Gennady Timoshchenko and Yevgeny Vladimirov left his close circle of advisers and were replaced by two friends from his hometown of Baku.

“There was a clash after game 19 and Vladimirov left,” Kasparov said.

There have been widespread rumors among experts watching the Leningrad match that Vladimirov may have provided information on Kasparov’s strategy to Karpov.

The champion said that he believed Vladimirov copied “important opening variations” that he kept in a safe. “I can’t prove anything, but it looks very strange and I have my own opinion,” Kasparov said.