Karpov, Kasparov Adjourn 23rd Game

The 23rd game of the world chess championship between Gary Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov was adjourned Wednesday in Seville, Spain. It will be resumed today.

As the 24-game match nears its end with the score tied 11-11, the pressure on challenger Karpov increases. If the match ends in a tie, Kasparov will keep the world championship. Since his defeat in the 16th game, Kasparov has drawn six games in a row.

It was Karpov’s last chance to use the advantage of playing white. He tried a different formation against Kasparov’s Gruenfeld Defense but obtained no advantage from the opening. Some clever play by Kasparov led to a blocked position. The adjourned position indicated that the game will likely end in another draw.