Kasparov and Karpov Draw in 17th Game

Champion Gary Kasparov and challenger Anatoly Karpov completed the 17th game of the world chess title match with a draw Thursday after 46 moves, leaving the score tied at 8 1/2 points apiece.

With seven games remaining in the 24-game tournament, the two Soviet grandmasters each have three victory points and 5 1/2 draw points. The tied score places Karpov, as challenger, at a disadvantage because the champion would retain his title if the match ends in a 12-12 tie.

In their 18th game today, Kasparov will open with white.

Play Thursday was carried over from the game adjourned Wednesday with the chief arbiter unsealing Kasparov’s 42nd move. Four moves later, Karpov threatened to force a favorable king and pawn ending, but he agreed to a draw when Kasparov followed with a strong equalizing reply. Kasparov suggested the draw.

Soviet grandmaster Mikhail Tal said the 17th game marked a shift in the each player’s tactics, with Karpov under pressure to score one more victory and Kasparov trying to force a draw.

The match in Seville is Karpov’s third attempt at regaining the world title, which he held for 10 years until losing it to Kasparov in 1985.

Here are the moves:

Karpov-Kasparov 17: 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 d4 0-0 6 Be2 e5 7 0-0 Nc6 8 d5 Ne7 9 Nd2 a5 10 b3 c5 11 a3 Ne8 12 Rb1 f5 13 b4 axb4 14 axb4 b6 15 Qb3 Nf6 16 Bd3 Bh6 17 Rb2 Ra1 18 Qc2 Bf4 19 Nf3 fxe4 20 Nxe4 Nxe4 21 Bxe4 Rxc1 22 Rxc1 Bxc1 23 Qxc1 Nf5 24 Qg5 Nd4 25 Qxd8 Nxf3+ 26 Bxf3 Rxd8 27 bxc5 bxc5 28 Rb8 Rf8 29 Rb6 Rf6 30 Rb8 Rf8 31 Rb6 Rf6 32 Be4 Bf5 33 Bxf5 Rxf5 34 g3 Rf6 35 h4 h6 36 Kg2 Kg7 37 f3 Kg8 38 Kf2 g5 39 hxg5 hxg5 40 Ke3 Kg7 41 Rb8 Kh7 42 Rd8 Kg7 43 Ra8 Kf7 44 Ke4 Kg7 45 Ra7+ Kg6 46 Re7 g4. Drawn