Person Biography:
Anatoly Karpov was born to a family with a strong connection to the steel industry. His father, a steelworker, rose through the ranks to become a chief engineer. Karpov's early childhood was marked by the introduction to the game of chess, which he learned at a young age. He further honed his skills through a distance learning course in chess from 1964 to 1968.
As he grew older, Karpov's passion for chess only intensified. In 1966, at the tender age of 15, he became the youngest chess master in the USSR. This remarkable achievement was only the beginning of his illustrious career.
In addition to his chess prowess, Karpov was also a dedicated student. He pursued a degree in economics, English, and Spanish, first in Moscow and later in Leningrad. In 1978, he received his diploma, a testament to his academic achievements.
Throughout his career, Karpov was a dominant force in the world of chess. He won the World Youth Championship in 1969 and went on to become the twelfth FIDE World Chess Champion without a fight in 1975. He successfully defended his title multiple times, including victories against Viktor Kortschnoj in 1978 and 1981.
Karpov's impressive performance earned him numerous accolades, including the Chess Oscar, which he received five times in a row from 1973 to 1977. He also received the Order of Labor and the Order of Lenin for his achievements.
Despite his many successes, Karpov faced a significant setback in 1985 when he lost the World Championship title to Garry Kasparov. He continued to challenge Kasparov in subsequent matches, but was ultimately unable to reclaim the title.
In the 1990s, Karpov continued to play chess and participated in various international tournaments. He is widely regarded as one of the best position players in chess history, with a total of nine Chess Oscars and over 100 tournament victories to his name.
