Karpov Dodges Trouble as Draw Appears Probable in 16th Game

The 16th game of the world chess championship between titleholder Gary Kasparov and challenger Anatoly Karpov was adjourned Sunday with Kasparov sealing his 89th move after six additional hours of play.

Experts, who had judged that Karpov’s defensive task was hopeless halfway through the session, said they now see no way that the champion can win.

Kasparov added to his material advantage by winning another pawn and, with a rook against a knight, would normally have had a winning position.

But Karpov, renowned for his defensive wizardry, constructed an amazing defense with limited material. Despite his deficit, his position appeared to be impenetrable and a draw the likely result.

Karpov has a knight, bishop and pawn against Kasparov’s more powerful rook, bishop and pawn.

The 24-game series remains tied at 7 1/2 to 7 1/2 with one win and 13 draws for each player.

Kasparov’s 89th move was sealed. Play resumes Tuesday.

Here are the moves of the 16th game:

Kasparov Karpov 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nxc6 bxc6 6 e5 Qe7 7 Qe2 Nd5 8 c4 Nb6 9 Nd2 Qe6 10 b3 a5 11 Bb2 Bb4 12 a3 Bxd2 13 Qxd2 d5 14 cxd5 cxd5 15 Rc1 0-0 16 Rxc7 Qg6 17 f3 Bf5 18 g4 Bb1 19 Bb5 Rac8 20 Rxc8 Rxc8 21 0-0 h5 22 h3 hxg4 23 hxg4 Bc2 24 Qdy Qe6 25 Rf2 Rc7 26 Rh2 Nd7 27 b4 axb4 28 axb4 Nf8 29 Bf1 Rb3 30 Bd4 Bc4 31 Bf5 Qe7 32 Qd2 Rc6 33 Bd4 Ra6 34 Bb1 Ra3 35 Rh3 Rb3 36 Bc2 Qb4 37 Qf2 Ng6 38 e6 Rb1 39 Bb1 Qb1 40 Kh2 fe6 41 Qb2 Qxb2 42 Bxb2 Nf4 43 Rh4 Nd3 44 Bc3 e5 45 Kg3 d4 46 Bd2 Bd5 47 Rh5 Kf7 48 Ba5 Ke6 49 Rh8 Nb2 50 Re8+ Kd6 51 Bb4+ Kc6 52 Rc8+ Kd7 53 Rc5 Ke6 54 Rc7 g6 55 Re7+ Kf6 56 Rd7 Ba2 57 Ra7 Bc4 58 Ba5 Bd3 59 f4 exf4+ 60 Kxf4 Bc2 61 Ra6+ Kf762 Ke5 Nd3+ 63 Kxd4 Nf2 64 g5 Bf5 65 Bd2 Ke7 66 Kd5 Ne4 67 Ra7+ Ke8 68 Be3 Nc3+ 69 Ke5 Kd870 Bb6+ Ke8 71 Rc7 Ne4 72 Be3 Ng3 73 Bf4 Nh5 74 Ra7 Kf8 75 Bh2 Ng7 76 Bg1 Nh5 77 Bc5 Kg8 78 Kd6 Kf8 79 Bd4 Bg4 80 Be5 Bf5 81 Rh7 Kg8 82 Rc7 Kf8 83 Kc6 Kg8 84 Re7 Kf8 85 Bd6 Kg8 86 Re8+ Kf7 87 Re7+ Kg8 88 Be5 Kf8.