FIDE World Chess Championship 1978

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In the FIDE World Chess Championship 1978, Anatoly Karpov of the Soviet Union defended his title against Viktor Korchnoi, who now played under the Swiss flag, in Baguio City, Philippines. Held at the Philippine International Convention Center, the match ended in a 6–5 victory for Karpov after 32 games. It became infamous for intense psychological warfare, culminating in what the media called “The Massacre in Baguio.”

FIDE World Chess Championship 1978, Viktor Korchnoi, Anatoly Karpov

📷 Korchnoi (left) vs. Karpov at the Max Euwe Memorial Tournament, Amsterdam, May 7, 1987
Bart Molendijk / Anefo: Nationaal Archief (License: CC0 1.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Winner/Reigning Champion: Anatoly Karpov

Born: May 23, 1951, Zlatoust, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)


Karpov was reigning World Champion after Fischer’s 1975 forfeiture, and entered the 1978 match as the dominant figure in elite chess. Renowned for his positional precision, strategic control, and impeccable endgame technique, Karpov had crushed strong opposition in preceding events. His team included elite analysts, and the full might of the Soviet chess apparatus. The stakes were enormous: a loss would be both a personal and political defeat. Despite Korchnoi’s late-match surge, Karpov held on. This controversial and tension-filled event helped define Karpov’s legacy as a resilient and calculating champion under pressure.

«Let’s say the game can continue in two ways: one is a beautiful tactical blow that gives rise to variations that cannot be precisely calculated; the other is clear positional pressure leading to an endgame with microscopic winning chances… Without a second thought, I would choose the latter.» – Anatoly Karpov

Challenger: Viktor Korchnoi

Born: March 23, 1931, Leningrad, Soviet Union
Died: June 6, 2016, Wohlen, Switzerland

Korchnoi earned his shot at the title by winning the 1977 Candidates cycle, defeating Polugaevsky, Petrosian, and Spassky. Known for his tenacity, unorthodox style, and counterattacking ingenuity, he had long been one of the strongest players in the world. His defection from the Soviet Union in 1976 and resulting statelessness cast the 1978 match in geopolitical shadow. Without institutional backing, and facing immense psychological stress, he fought fiercely. His rally in the final games made history, though he ultimately fell short in Game 32.

«Those who think chess is easy are mistaken. During a game, a player lives on his nerves, yet at the same time, he must remain completely calm.» – Viktor Korchnoi

Match Overview

🗓️ Match Dates: July 18 – October 18, 1978
📍 Location: Baguio City, Philippines
✅ Format: First to 6 wins (draws not counting)
⏱️ Time Control: 40 moves in 2.5 hours, then adjournment and continuation next day
💰 Prize Fund: $500,000 USD, state-funded
📄 Main Sponsors: Philippine Government, FIDE, Philippine Chess Federation

Historical and Cultural Context

Set against the Cold War, the 1978 championship carried deep ideological overtones. Karpov, backed by the USSR, faced Korchnoi, a recent defector playing under a neutral flag. Accusations of hypnosis, yogurt signaling, and even the use of anomalous psychological methods led to protests and dramatic headlines. Western outlets framed the clash as freedom vs. authoritarianism, while Soviet media hailed Karpov’s win as systemic triumph. Security was heightened, and no detail was too small. The match’s reputation for surreal drama still resonates.

FIDE World Chess Championship 1978, Anatoly Karpov (RUS), Viktor Korchnoi (SUI)

World Chess Championship 1978 Games

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Game 21

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Game 24

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Game 28

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Game 30

Game 31

Game 32

FIDE World Chess Championship 1978

Anatoly Karpov, Soviet Union

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World Chess Championship 1978 Sources

Quote Sources

General Sources

Photo Credits

📷 Korchnoi (left) vs. Karpov at the Max Euwe Memorial Tournament, Amsterdam, 1987
Bart Molendijk / Anefo: Nationaal Archief (License: CC0 1.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Date: May 7, 1987

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.