European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse By Klint Johnson staff writer i it Anatoly Karpov to obvious the soviets consider a world chess Champion one of their biggest showpieces. Why else would the russians uproot Anatoly Karpov from his chess duties and economics studies in Leningrad and Send him on a three hour Jet flight plus four hour automobile ride to Bak Uriani a ski resort in the Republic of Georgia where journalists from 23 nations were meeting. Yet there he was in an out of the Way Village inthe caucasus mountains with his entourage. The 26 year old Karpov made a Token first night appear Ance and then disappeared from Public View including the ski slopes until his command performance the next afternoon. Ii was billed As an occasion where any of the visiting journalists who played chess could take on the world Champion. But before the mass exhibition started there was press conference which commenced with the Cham Pion drumming his Idle fingers while one of the functionaries who accompanied him spoke at s eager Amateur adversaries had to wait while the functionary delivered his half biographic half propaganda in talk which included these facts on Karpov s background he won the world youth championship at Geneva in 1969.0 he was the youngest Ever grand master in 1971 at the age on 19 he became world Champion in 1975 after Ameri Ca s Bobby Fischer refused to accept the International chess federation s rules for a championship match.9 he is the Only soviet Champion to improve his standing every year since age 10.0 he is the most successful soviet chess Champion in the last 25 years a big statement considering that six of seven world champions since 1948 have been russians the speaker an official of the soviet chess federa Tion stated in his closing statement in the soviet Union chess is a military game while elsewhere it is a As a parting shot he added we wish All the wars of the world could be settled on these 64 then finally it was the Champion s turn to speak and Karpov stood up but not that far. He s a Short Man of about s feet 6 in elevated Heel with Boyish features slender almost feminine looking hands and a High pitched voice. He was dressed durably but neatly in Adark suit with tie. He answered All questions in russian without hesitation. And he seemed at ease in the multilingual chess wizard Karpov takes on one of 34 International journalists in a one against All match. Friday May 27, 1977 press conference format with its delays for Transl the question in t it very difficult to Bear the responsibility of a whole nation when he plays Karpov replied that he understood Why other Young players in the soviet Union fail but i have adjusted. It s a Tough Burden to Bear but i could t go on without on the subject of preparation for a big said he trains according to each player s difficulty. There Are no objective rules for training inches he said. And that s Why each individual player trains according to his own methods. As everyone knows you must play other sports he added ignoring the tact that his cohort had just taken chess out of the sports realm. I Waskom in an area that is the Center of skiing in the user. Unfortunately for this occasion it s not the downhill Type of skiing. In the summer i swim and participate in other sports when time also said he had a Broad spectrum of inter ests and when he has free time prefers not to talk chess. Karpov was asked if be was bothered by a personality cult surrounding him. The re sults of Success Don t last forever be responded. No successes no to the question from a Western newsman of whether the state subsidizes top soviet chess play ers Karpov had his ready made reply chess has become very popular throughout the world and an help the soviet state can give its chess champions helps the game worldwide then inevitably the names of Fischer and spas sky were brought his opinion of Fischer Karpov said it was a Broad question and there was t enough time to answer it. Of course he said Fischer and spas sky Are both chess current Champion said he had played Spassky whom Fischer beat in 72 for the world Crown Many times and the score is very much in his Karpov added that unfortunately he had not yet played tables were rearranged in a rectangle and 34 journalists from both sides of the Iron curtain some ranked in their own countries sat Down to play the world titleholder. Dennis Rcd ont Rome Burea chief for the associated press was the Lone Ameri can. The rules Are fundamental or such one a Gamut All matches Karpov s opponents could Only move when be is in rout of them but the could Kilp a move or make More than one move while lacing the Champion. Karpov. Using the White pieces made the first moves. Circling in a counterclockwise direction the russian rarely came to a full Stop As he completed the first three moves in 10 minutes at this Point Sev eral cameramen who had been allowed to shoot Pic Tures from inside the rectangle were ordered outside the enclosure. And then it was Karpov alone inc enter stage going about his moves like a prize animal prowling the perimeter of its As the games progressed it was still a rare thing for him to hesitate in front of a player. Occasionally he would look up at lire face of an opponent. In most cases those that Drew such a glance turned out to be the better s moves Drew facial reactions of total astonishment from some of his More demonstrative 55 minutes a Young norwegian Tore Johannssen was the first to concede defeat and he received a Book As a present. Then developed a ritual of journalists shrugging folding and shaking hands with the master until spaniard Antonio Villa Pena of Zaragoza was the Only opponent did t last Long in head to head Competition conceding after 1 hour and 40 minutes total time he received the same gift s countrymen treated him As a hero hoisting him to their shoulders in a demonstration quite unique to Ness Terry White who was one of the last to Bow out. Was duly impressed. My worst defense i against the Queen s gambit and. Sure enough that s what he hit me with right off the Bat. I had one trap Laid three moves ahead and he recognized it immediately. And he did that while Only seeing my Board a few seconds at a with a flair for understatement Redmont sighed he does i fall into the first out norwegian got a lot of mileage out of his distinction. In English he wrote in his gift Book to the Best player and then had the be mused Karpov sign below the inscription. The stars and stripes Page 11
