Kasparov vs Karpov — WCC 1985 Game 16
The game that swung the 1985 World Championship match in Kasparov's favor, featuring a powerful Sicilian attack.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov (1985)
Event: World Chess Championship, Moscow (Game 16) | Result: 0-1
Professor Archer says: The Kasparov-Karpov rivalry defined chess for a generation. They played five world championship matches and 144 classical games against each other. But Game 16 of 1985 stands out because it was the moment Kasparov seized the psychological initiative. After this game, Karpov was on the defensive, and the crown was slipping away.
The Greatest Rivalry in Chess
The Kasparov-Karpov rivalry is the most intense and prolonged in chess history. Their first match, which began in 1984, was controversially terminated after 48 games with no winner. The 1985 rematch was their second attempt to settle the question of who was the best player in the world.
Karpov, the reigning champion, represented the Soviet chess establishment — methodical, positional, and deeply experienced. Kasparov, twelve years younger, was a dynamic and aggressive player who represented the new generation. Game 16 became a critical turning point in their epic struggle.
Kasparov's Sicilian Preparation
Kasparov chose the Sicilian Defense, the most combative response to 1. e4. The specific variation he played had been deeply prepared by his team, and Karpov walked into a line where Kasparov's home analysis gave him a significant advantage.
The position that arose was sharp and double-edged, exactly the type of chess Kasparov thrived in. While Karpov was at his best in quiet, strategic positions, the Sicilian's tactical complexity played to Kasparov's strengths.
Kasparov's pieces are active and well-placed in this sharp Sicilian position.
The Attack Builds
Kasparov's play in the middlegame was a masterclass in dynamic chess. He used his active piece placement to generate threats on both sides of the board, never allowing Karpov to consolidate or settle into a comfortable position.
The key was Kasparov's ability to maintain the tension. Rather than rushing to force a conclusion, he improved his pieces incrementally while keeping Karpov off balance. This combination of patience and aggression is difficult to achieve and is a hallmark of Kasparov's style at its best.
Karpov defended tenaciously, as he always did, but the accumulated pressure eventually forced errors. When the position opened up, Kasparov's pieces were perfectly placed to deliver the decisive blow.
The Match Swings
This victory gave Kasparov crucial momentum in the match. The psychological impact was perhaps even greater than the scoreboard impact — Kasparov had shown that he could beat Karpov in a sharp tactical battle, undermining the champion's confidence.
Kasparov went on to win the match and become the youngest World Chess Champion in history at age 22, a record that stood until Gukesh broke it in 2024. The rivalry would continue through three more world championship matches, but this game was the moment where the balance of power shifted decisively.
Preparation as a Weapon
Game 16 demonstrates the enormous importance of opening preparation in modern chess. Kasparov's team had analyzed the Sicilian variation deeply and found an improvement that gave him a significant advantage right out of the opening. Karpov was essentially playing Kasparov's preparation rather than his own game.
For today's players, this is a crucial lesson. While you do not need the depth of preparation that world championship contenders employ, understanding your openings well enough to avoid known pitfalls is essential. Even a moderate amount of preparation can give you a decisive advantage against an unprepared opponent.
This game also shows that preparation extends beyond memorizing moves. Kasparov understood the resulting positions deeply, which allowed him to navigate the complications successfully even when Karpov deviated from the expected line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kasparov vs Karpov 1985 Game 16 considered a masterpiece?
This game is considered a masterpiece because it was the critical turning point in the greatest rivalry in chess history. Kasparov's deeply prepared Sicilian attack swung the 1985 World Championship match in his favor, ultimately making him the youngest World Champion at age 22.
What opening was played in Karpov vs Kasparov 1985 Game 16?
Kasparov chose the Sicilian Defense, the most combative response to 1. e4. The specific variation had been deeply prepared by Kasparov's team, and Karpov walked into a line where Kasparov held a significant advantage from the opening.
Who won Kasparov vs Karpov 1985 Game 16?
Garry Kasparov won as Black against Anatoly Karpov in Game 16 of the 1985 World Chess Championship in Moscow. The victory gave Kasparov crucial momentum, and he went on to win the match and become champion.
What key tactic or theme decided Kasparov vs Karpov 1985 Game 16?
The game was decided by Kasparov's deep opening preparation combined with dynamic middlegame play. He maintained tension and improved his pieces incrementally while keeping Karpov off balance, eventually forcing errors when the position opened up.
Professor Archer says: What this game teaches is that preparation and courage must work together. Kasparov's opening choice was deeply prepared, but he still needed the nerve to play it on the biggest stage. Preparation without courage is wasted, and courage without preparation is reckless. The combination of both is what makes champions.
Quick Quiz
How old was Kasparov when he became World Chess Champion in 1985?
- 18 years old - That was Gukesh's age when he won the title in 2024. Kasparov was 22 years old in 1985.
- 22 years old (Correct) - Correct. Kasparov was 22 when he defeated Karpov in 1985, making him the youngest World Champion at the time. His record stood until 2024.
- 25 years old - Kasparov was younger than 25. He was 22 years old when he won the title, setting an age record at the time.
- 30 years old - Kasparov was much younger. At 22, he became the youngest World Champion — a record he held for nearly four decades.