Karpov, Kasparov to Play Chess Rematch

Former world champion Anatoly Karpov won the World Candidates chess final Monday by beating Jan Timman of the Netherlands and earned the right to a world championship rematch with fellow Soviet Gary Kasparov.

The $3-million championship match, the fifth between the archrival grandmasters in six years, will open in New York in October.

Timman resigned after 56 moves in the ninth game, giving Karpov the victory, 6 1/2-2 1/2. Grandmasters and chess experts said it was the best game of the tournament.

“I didn’t expect to win so easily,” said Karpov, who earned the lion’s share of the $250,000 prize.

Timman said he thought that he played a good game but made a crucial mistake on move 39 when he played bishop to queen two. “I should have taken Karpov’s king pawn,” he said dejectedly.

Timman said he feared defeat after losing the fourth game.

“I felt that was my best game and didn’t think I could win after losing it,” he told reporters.