Classical World Chess Championship 1993
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The Classical World Chess Championship 1993 was held at the Savoy Theatre in London, featuring Garry Kasparov (Russia) and Nigel Short (England). Both players had broken away from FIDE to form the Professional Chess Association (PCA), sparking a historic split. Kasparov, the reigning champion, convincingly defeated Short and retained his title. The event marked the start of a controversial era with two parallel world titles.
📷 Copyright 2007, S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams,
The Kasparov Agency.: (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Winner: Garry Kasparov
Born: April 13, 1963, in Baku, Soviet Union (now Azerbaijan)
By 1993, Garry Kasparov was firmly established as the world’s strongest player. Known for his razor-sharp preparation, dynamic opening repertoire, and psychological edge, Kasparov had already defended his title three times against Karpov. Frustrated by FIDE’s governance and its handling of the Candidates cycle, Kasparov—alongside Short—formed the PCA and organized their own championship. The move was controversial, but Kasparov’s motivation stemmed from his long-standing desire to modernize chess. His play in London reflected complete dominance: well-prepared, aggressive, and tactically superior. With this victory, Kasparov entered a new era as the unofficial world champion, though he retained overwhelming recognition.
«It will be Short, and it will be short.» – Garry Kasparov
Opponent: Nigel Short
Born: June 1, 1965, in Leigh, England
Nigel Short made history by becoming the first English player to reach a World Championship final. Long hailed as a prodigy, he matured into an elite grandmaster by the early 1990s, defeating Karpov, Gelfand, and Timman to qualify. Short’s style blended strategic clarity with tactical vision, but his lack of top-level match experience showed against Kasparov. Off the board, he was instrumental in challenging FIDE’s authority. Though he lost decisively, Short’s role in reshaping chess governance had lasting consequences. This match remains the pinnacle of his career, symbolizing both personal achievement and professional risk.
«To be champion, you must believe in yourself when no one else does.» – Nigel Short
Match Overview
🗓️ Match Dates: September 7 – October 21, 1993
📍 Location: Savoy Theatre, London, England
✅ Format: Best of 24 games
⏱️ Time Control: 40 moves in 2 hours, then 20 moves in 1 hour, 30 minutes to finish
💰 Prize Fund: $1.7 million (sponsor-funded; $1M to winner, $700k to runner-up)
📄 Main Sponsors: The Times (London), Intel Corporation, Grand Metropolitan PLC
Historical and Cultural Context
The 1993 championship sparked an unprecedented split in world chess governance. Disillusioned with FIDE’s opaque decisions and disregard for player input, Kasparov and Short organized the match through the newly formed PCA. FIDE responded by stripping them of recognition and setting up a parallel match between Karpov and Timman. The London match received greater media attention, symbolizing chess’s growing ties to the corporate world and televised spectacle. While controversial, the event initiated important debates about governance, legitimacy, and the future of professional chess.
Classical World Chess Championship 1993 Games
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
Game 9
Game 10
Game 11
Game 12
Game 13
Game 14
Game 15
Game 16
Game 17
Game 18
Game 19
Game 20
Classical World Chess Championship 1993
Garry Kasparov, Russia
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Classical World Chess Championship 1993 Sources
Quote Sources
- PCA Press Conference (1993): Kasparov and Short Discuss the FIDE Split
- The Times (1993): London Pre-Match Interviews and Statements
- New in Chess (1993, Issues 7–8): Exclusive Player Interviews and Analysis
General Sources
- FIDE Archives: Event Reactions and Official Response
- ChessBase: Kasparov vs. Short 1993 Match Summary
- New in Chess Magazine: 1993 Special Issues on the PCA Breakaway
- British Chess Magazine (1993, Issues Oct–Dec): London Match Reports and Commentary
- The Guardian: Coverage of the PCA Formation and Match Aftermath
- The Spectator: A Split in the Chess World
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Parallel FIDE Match Report
- Le Monde: Kasparov–Short Coverage in France
- New York Times (1993): Kasparov’s Break with FIDE
- Chess Informant Vol. 58: [Kasparov–Short Annotated Games]
- Mark Weeks: Split Title Explanation and Match Background
- TWIC Archives – Issues 200–210: Game Records and Round Reports
- Edward Winter: PCA and the 1993 Crisis
- Bernard Cafferty: British Chess Magazine Reports
- Hans Ree: [Chess Commentary and Legacy Essays]
- Cathy Rogers: [Eye-Witness Reports from London]
Photo Credits
📷 Portrait, 1993
Copyright 2007, S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agency.: (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.