Top 10 Chess Players: Anatoly Karpov (1951–), Russia

Although Garry Kasparov eventually eclipsed Anatoly Karpov, no one would dream of leaving Karpov off this list. Karpov won the championship by default when Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title.
Many people considered this a black mark on Karpov's record because Karpov never actually won the title by playing a championship match, but that's silly. Perhaps this event is what spurred him on to incredible achievements in tournament chess in the 1970s and '80s.

Only the great Viktor Korchnoi was able to test him in match play, but even he couldn't beat Karpov, and Karpov dominated the tournament scene. From 1978 to 1981, Karpov played in ten major tournaments and finished clear first or in a tie for first in nine of them. Karpov was clearly the dominant player after Fischer and before Kasparov.

Karpov has moved up on this list because he battled so long and hard against Kasparov and competed on an almost equal level when they were both at their best. Elevating my estimation of Kasparov's greatness forced me to reconsider Karpov's.

Karpov was renowned for his positional genius. His pieces and pawns nearly always seemed to sit confidently on exactly the right squares. His "quiet" moves seemed to suck the life out of his opponent's game. Playing him has been compared to being slowly suffocated by a boa constrictor. But Karpov could produce a flashy combination as well — if it was really the best move!

In the position from 1977 in the figure, Karpov is black against the Italian champion Stefano Tatai, whose white pieces have been restricted to the back three rows of the board. Importantly, Tatai's king is not yet castled. Cover the moves following the figure with your hand and, before going on, try to find Karpov's next move. We're starting at move 23 of the game. (Check out Understanding Chess Notation if you need help with reading the moves.)

23. … Qd3!

chess-karpov-black
Black is about to play a surprising move
An unpleasant surprise! Queen sacrifices are often completely unanticipated.

24. exd3

Had Tatai recovered from the shock in time, he might have tried 24. Qd2, but then Karpov would have been able to show off just how deeply he saw into this position (24… . Qxd2+ 25. Kxd2 Rac8 26. axb4 Red8+, 27. Ke1 Rc2 28. f3 Rdd2 29. fxg4 Rxe2+) when white's position was hopeless. Alternatively, 24. Qxd3 exd3 would also have left white's king in the bullseye: 25. e4 d2+! 26. Kxd2 Red8+.

24. … exd3+

Discovered check!

25. Kd2Re2+

26. Kxd3

What now? Obviously, 26… . Rxc2 27. Kxc2 would have left white ahead a whole rook. Ah, but wait, black can throw his other rook into the game with a check!

26. … Rd8+

27. Kc4Rxc2+

28. Kxb4Rcd2

Black attacks the white knight on d1 three times, and it's guarded only twice. So …

29. f3Bf8+

This move is much stronger than capturing the pawn on b7.

30. Ka5

30. Kb3 would have capitulated even more quickly after 30… . Be6+, and it would have been checkmate in no more than three more moves.

30. … Bd7

White resigns (see the figure). If Tatai had saved his bishop, he would have been mated in four moves: 31. Bf1 Bc5 32.Bc4+ Kh8, after which 33… . Ra8+ and checkmate could no longer be prevented. 0–1

chess-karpov-seals
Karpov seals white's fate

Anatoly Karpov, born in 1951 in Russia, is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history, leaving an indelible mark on the game with his exceptional skills and strategic prowess.
Karpov's rise to prominence began early, as he showed prodigious talent from a young age. He became the World Chess Champion in 1975 after Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title, and he held the crown until 1985, engaging in some of the most legendary matches in chess history during his reign. His playing style is often characterized by a relentless, positional approach—he excels at accumulating small advantages, exploiting even the tiniest weaknesses in his opponent’s position, and gradually tightening the noose until victory becomes inevitable. This methodical approach earned him the nickname "The Master of Positional Play."
Throughout his career, Karpov faced off against some of the sport’s biggest names, including Garry Kasparov, with whom he contested a series of epic World Championship matches that captivated the chess world. Beyond his World Championship triumphs, he also dominated international tournaments for decades, winning countless prestigious events and cementing his status as a true chess legend.
Karpov’s influence extends beyond the board as well. He has been a vocal advocate for chess education, recognizing the game’s ability to develop critical thinking, concentration, and strategic planning skills, especially in young people. His contributions to chess have earned him widespread respect, and his games remain studied by players of all levels for their brilliance and depth. Even in his later years, his impact on the sport endures, making him a towering figure in the history of chess.

Not gonna lie, the loot system feels kinda unfair sometimes.

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Combat feels powerful and satisfying.

The replayability is endless.