FIDE World Chess Championship 1993
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The FIDE World Chess Championship 1993 took place amid turmoil after the breakaway of Kasparov and Short to form the PCA. Declaring the title vacant, FIDE arranged a match between Anatoly Karpov (Russia) and Jan Timman (Netherlands), the next top Candidates. Karpov won convincingly and reclaimed the official title under controversial circumstances.
Karpov and Timman at the Interpolis Tournament, 1986
📷 Rob Croes for Anefo: (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons, 18 October 1986.
Winner: Anatoly Karpov
Born: May 23, 1951, Zlatoust, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)
By 1993, Anatoly Karpov was already one of the most accomplished world champions in chess history. Known for his strategic clarity and endgame precision, he returned to the title under unique conditions following the PCA split. Though the format was disputed, Karpov’s performance was solid and assured, reminding the world of his enduring class and adaptability.
«World Championships are not just about moves; they are about character and resilience.» – Anatoly Karpov
Opponent: Jan Timman
Born: December 14, 1951, in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan Timman was long seen as the strongest non-Soviet contender. Known for his creative attacks and deep preparation, he stepped into the match after Short declined FIDE’s format. Though ambitious and respected, Timman was outplayed in the match, but his presence affirmed his place among the elite of his era.
«My strength is my stubbornness to keep searching for the best move.» – Jan Timman
Match Overview
🗓️ Match Dates: September 6 – November 1, 1993
📍 Location: Zwolle, Arnhem, Amsterdam (Netherlands); Jakarta (Indonesia)
✅ 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 million USD (FIDE-disbursed)
📄 Main Sponsors: Ministry of Youth & Sports (Indonesia), KNSB (Dutch Chess Federation), Batik Keris, ING Bank
Historical and Cultural Context
The 1993 championship followed the dramatic PCA–FIDE split, creating two rival world title matches. Kasparov’s PCA match drew more attention, but FIDE’s match still carried official status. Karpov’s victory, though disputed by some, emphasized his longevity at the top and maintained FIDE’s hold on the title despite the chaos.
FIDE World Chess Championship 1993 Games
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Game 14
Game 15
Game 16
Game 17
Game 18
Game 19
Game 20
Game 21
FIDE World Chess Championship 1993
Anatoly Karpov, Russia
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FIDE World Chess Championship 1993 Sources
Quote Sources
- Anatoly Karpov: Karpov on Karpov: Memoirs of a Chess World Champion – Atheneum, 1992
- Jan Timman: Timman’s Titans: My World Chess Champions – New in Chess, 2016
- FIDE Press Conference: Karpov Reflects on Regaining the Title – November 1993
General Sources
- FIDE Archives: Official Match Records
- ChessBase: Karpov vs Timman 1993 Match Summary
- New in Chess Magazine: 1993 PCA–FIDE Special Reports
- British Chess Magazine: Coverage of Both 1993 World Championships
- The Guardian: Chess Divided: The PCA Breakaway
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: Europäische Reaktionen auf FIDE-Kampftitel
- Le Monde: La scission des échecs: Karpov contre Timman
- Deutsche Schachzeitung: [Karpovs Rückkehr zur Krone] – archive-only
- New York Times: FIDE Crowns Karpov While Kasparov Reigns Elsewhere
- Shakhmaty v SSSR: [Russian Commentary on the FIDE Match] – archive-only
- Chess Informant Vol. 58: [Annotated Games: Karpov–Timman 1993]
- TWIC Archives: The Week in Chess Reports, Issues 199–210
- Mark Weeks: 1993 FIDE Championship Overview
- Edward Winter: The 1993 Schism: Origins and Impact
- Genna Sosonko: [Reflections on FIDE and the Soviet Legacy] – NIC Essays
- Harold J. Murray: [Historical Context of World Titles] – archive via HathiTr
Photo Sources
📷 Karpov and Timman at the Interpolis Tournament, 1986
Rob Croes / Anefo: (License: CC0) via Wikimedia Commons, 18 October 1986.
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.