FIDE World Chess Championship 1998
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The FIDE World Chess Championship 1998 was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, and brought together two iconic rivals: reigning champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia and challenger Viswanathan Anand of India. In a tense battle that spilled into rapid tiebreaks, Karpov defended his title, reinforcing his place among the all-time greats.
Сергей Рубанко Sergey Rubanko CC BY SA 30 via Wikimedia Commons
Winner: Anatoly Karpov
Born: May 23, 1951, Zlatoust, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Anatoly Karpov, one of the most decorated champions in chess history, arrived in Lausanne as the reigning FIDE World Champion, already a legend. Known for his positional mastery, strategic finesse, and icy precision, he had reigned since 1975 and fended off generations of challengers. At 46, many thought his best years were behind him—but Karpov delivered a defiant performance. Despite playing only the final while Anand had to endure the grueling qualification tournament, Karpov’s resilience and cold-blooded technique proved decisive.
«Chess is my life, but my life is not just chess.» – Anatoly Karpov
Opponent: Viswanathan Anand
Born: December 11, 1969, in Madras (now Chennai), India
Viswanathan Anand, dubbed the “Lightning Kid”, was already a global star in 1998, known for his blistering speed, sharp calculation, and grace under pressure. His path to Lausanne was brutal: he won the FIDE Knockout Tournament in Groningen, defeating elite opponents including Michael Adams, Boris Gelfand, and Alexei Shirov. This left him with barely any rest before facing a well-prepared Karpov. Despite fatigue, Anand led after five games and pushed the match to tiebreaks. His defeat in the rapid playoff stirred controversy and sympathy. Still, his performance cemented his place at the elite level, and he would return to challenge—and win—again.
«Chess is a universal language that brings people together.» – Viswanathan Anand
Match Overview
🗓️ Match Dates: January 2–9, 1998
📍 Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
✅ Format: 6 classical games + rapid/blitz tiebreaks if needed
⏱️ Time Control: 40 moves in 2 hours, then 1 hour sudden death; tiebreaks: 25 min rapid, 5 min blitz if needed
💰 Prize Fund: $1.5 million (Karpov: $1 million, Anand: $500,000)
📄 Main Sponsors: FIDE, Swiss Chess Federation, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise
Historical and Cultural Context
The 1998 championship unfolded during a turbulent period in world chess. FIDE’s decision to seed Karpov directly into the final—while Anand had to fight through the knockout stages—sparked criticism. The venue, Lausanne, symbolized an effort to stabilize and globalize the fractured chess world. Media attention was high, particularly in India and Russia, and the match became a focal point in debates about fairness and reform. The thrilling playoff, broadcast internationally, helped elevate chess’s popularity at the turn of the millennium.
FIDE World Chess Championship 1998 Games
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
FIDE World Chess Championship 1998
Anatoly Karpov, Russia
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FIDE World Chess Championship 1998 Sources
Quote Sources
- FIDE Press Conference: Official statements from Karpov and Anand
- New in Chess Magazine: 1998 Issues 2 & 3 – Grandmaster commentary
General Sources
- FIDE Archives: Official game records and match transcripts
- ChessBase: Anand vs. Karpov – The 1998 FIDE Championship
- British Chess Magazine: February 1998 Issue – In-depth reporting
- The New York Times: (January 1998) – Tournament dispatches and interviews
- The Week in Chess: TWIC #171–173 – Round-by-round summaries
- Mark Weeks’ Chess Pages: FIDE 1998 background and implications
- Wikipedia:
Photo Credits
📷 Anatoly Karpov, 1998
Сергей Рубанко (Sergey Rubanko): (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.