Classical World Chess Championship 1995

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The Classical World Chess Championship 1995 was held atop the World Trade Center in New York City, featuring reigning champion Garry Kasparov (Russia) and challenger Viswanathan Anand (India). Anand had earned his place by winning the PCA Candidates Tournament. Kasparov won 10½–7½ in a match remembered for its intensity, strategic depth, and dramatic setting.

Classical World Chess Championship 1995, Garry Kasparov vs. Viswanathan Anand

📷 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)

Already a global icon, Garry Kasparov entered the match as reigning Classical World Champion, having split from FIDE in 1993 to form the Professional Chess Association. Renowned for his relentless will to win, theoretical innovation, and explosive style, Kasparov came fully prepared for Anand’s dynamic play. After eight tense draws, Kasparov seized momentum with brilliant wins in Games 10, 11, 13, and 14. This dominant stretch under pressure reaffirmed his place at the summit of the chess world.

«Chess is mental torture.» – Garry Kasparov

Opponent: Viswanathan Anand

Born: December 11, 1969, in Madras, India (now Chennai)

Viswanathan Anand arrived in New York as a rising force, having conquered the 1994–95 PCA Candidates. Famous for his blistering speed, calm focus, and positional clarity, Anand was widely regarded as the heir apparent. He shocked Kasparov in Game 9, but struggled to withstand the champion’s mid-match surge. Still, Anand’s graceful demeanor and fighting spirit earned admiration worldwide and marked the start of his two-decade presence at the top.

“Chess is a universal language that brings people together.” – Viswanathan Anand

Match Overview

🗓️ Match Dates: September 11 – October 10, 1995
📍 Location: World Trade Center, New York City, United States
✅ Format: Best of 20 games
⏱️ Time Control: 40 moves in 2 hours, then 1 hour for 20 moves, then 30 minutes to finish
💰 Prize Fund: $1.5 million (PCA-sponsored; $1 million to Kasparov, $500,000 to Anand)
📄 Main Sponsors: Intel, PCA, Trump Organization (qualification), World Trade Center Management

Historical and Cultural Context

The 1995 match was the last world championship played at the original World Trade Center, bringing elite chess to an iconic venue. The split between FIDE and the PCA had created dual world titles, but this match was widely seen as a clash between the best. With backing from Intel and slick production values, it marked a brief golden moment for commercial chess. The event helped usher chess into the digital era, reaching new global audiences.

Classical World Chess Championship 1995, Garry Kasparov (RUS), Viswanathan Anand (IND)

Classical World Chess Championship 1995 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

Classical World Chess Championship 1995

Garry Kasparov, Russia

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Classical World Chess Championship 1995 Sources

Quote Sources

General Sources

Photo Credits

📷 Garry Kasparov vs Viswanathan Anand, World Trade Center 1995
Copyright 2007, S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agency.: (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons, 1995.

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.