Kasparov, Karpov Clash Over Chess Game Draw

Chess champion Gary Kasparov and challenger Anatoly Karpov traded charges of impolite or incorrect behavior on Saturday after drawing the 15th game of their world title match.

Kasparov, 24, told reporters he was “very cross” over the way in which Karpov had offered a draw in the game while Karpov, 36, responded by charging his younger opponent with incorrect behavior.

The controversy flared on Saturday after the 15th game was adjourned late Friday with Karpov depositing his next move in a sealed envelope before retiring. The game was agreed drawn on Saturday without play resuming.

Officials said Karpov’s offer of a draw had been delivered while Kasparov was asleep, and by the time he woke up and accepted it, an irritated Karpov had decided to withdraw it.

Match chief arbiter Geurt Gijssen of Holland ruled that under the regulations it could not be withdrawn and had to stand. Gijssen ruled the game had been officially registered as a draw.

Kasparov Leads, 8-7

The draw leaves Kasparov ahead in the 24-game match by 8-7, having won three games, lost two and drawn 10. Karpov is trying to regain the world title from his fellow Soviet grandmaster.

Here are the moves:

Karpov-Kasparov 15: 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Qb3 dxc4 6 Qxc4 0-0 7 e4 Na6 8 Be2 c5 9 d5 e6 10 0-0 exd5 11 exd5 Bf5 12 Rd1 Re8 13 d6 h6 14 h3 Nb4 15 Bf4 Nd7 16 Rd2 a6 17 Qb3 b5 18 Qd1 c4 19 a4 Nc5 20 axb5 Nbd3 21 Bxd3 Nxd3 22 Rxd3 cxd3 23 Nd5 axb5 24 Ne7+ Kh7 25 Rxa8 Qxa8 26 Nxf5 gxf5 27 Qxd3 Qe4 28 Qxb5 Ra8 29 Bd2 Rd8 30 Qc5 Qe6 31 Bf4 Bxb2 32 Nh4 Bf6 33 Qxf5+ Qxf5 34 Nxf5 h5 35 g4 hxg4 36 hxg4 Kg6 37 Kg2 Bb2 38 Ne7+ Kf6 39 Nc6 Rd7 40 Nb8 Rd8 41 d7 Ke6 42 Kf3 Ba3, draw agreed.