CHESS | BAGUIO CITY, Philippines- Legendary Russian GM Karpov is to return 45 years after his match vs. GM Viktor Korchnoi
Anatoly Karpov: The Legendary Russian Chess Grandmaster
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GRAND WELCOME AWAITS RUSSIAN WORLD CHESS CHAMPION
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BAGUIO CITY, Benguet, Philippies — Russian chess grandmaster Anatoly Karpov is scheduled to return to this city on Wednesday, 45 years after his iconic grudge match against the late grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi in the summer capital, which stunned the world.
Karpov, now a member of Russia’s State Duma, which is similar to the Philippines’ House of Representatives, was originally invited by Mayor Benjamin Magalong to visit the city on Nov. 4, 2021, but that trip did not push through.
Memento Maxima Digital MarketingHistoric building
Before arriving here, Karpov will reportedly hold a lecture in Manila on Jan. 31 to be followed by the screening of a Russian movie depicting his 1978 battle with Korchnoi at Baguio’s convention center. Korchnoi died in 2016. (See related story in Sports, Page B4.)
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LANDMARK The Baguio Convention Center was built to serve as venue for the world championship match between Soviet grandmaster Anatoly Karpov and Soviet defector Viktor Korchnoi in 1978. —VINCENT CABREZA
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Flanked by the summer courthouses of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, and the University of the Philippines Baguio, the convention center was inaugurated by the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1978.
Former Mayors Mauricio Domogan and Bernardo Vergara negotiated to buy the facility from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) during their respective terms between 2004 and 2010.
The GSIS, which had proprietary control over the convention center, was on the verge of liquidating its Baguio assets, and finalized its P300-million sale of the historic building to the city government in 2011.
One of the unique features of the original convention center was a central platform that could be lifted or lowered.
It was renovated under Magalong’s term and now houses spaces for art galleries, as well as the city’s command center as Baguio shifts to an automated community.
The facility has also been renamed the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, having been classified as a creative hub.
In 2017, Baguio became the country’s first city to join the World Creative Cities Network of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
BEATING WORLD CHAMP
Karpov visit fetches moment of pride for GM Torre
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Eugenio Torre vs Anatoly Karpov | Photo: David Llada
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Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre can still vividly recall when he beat Russian chess legend Anatoly Karpov almost four decades ago.
“I will never forget the time I won against him because at that time he was the world champion,’’ Torre told the Inquirer.
Karpov and Torre are set to meet again on Tuesday not across each other, but in front of 200 kids at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where the illustrious Russian GM hopes to inspire future champions.
Torre, Asia’s first GM, actually defeated Karpov in his prime twice—during the 1976 Manila Interzonal and in an invitational tournament in London in 1984. Karpov, however, beat Torre four times and drew the Filipino five times in their head-to-head.
“I’m very fortunate to have [played against] Karpov because he seldom lost during the decade when he became world champion,’’ Torre said. “He was almost invincible at that time.”
Karpov, who took the sport by storm as its world champion from 1975 to 1985, arrived late Monday for a three-day visit hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission in cooperation with the Russian embassy.
Now a politician in the State of Duma in Russia, the 71-year-old Karpov will do more than just speak during his visit here.
“We will screen the movie ‘The Champion of the World’ made in Russia. It will commemorate the championship of Karpov here in the Philippines in Baguio [in] 1978,’’ said Nina Prakapovich, press-attache of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines.
Karpov retained his title at the 1978 World Chess Championship in Baguio after beating Victor Korchnoi. INQ
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