Rare Chess Olympiad 1982 footage - Kortchnoi v Kasparov epic game

[Paul Macklin]

Those of a certain age will remember this game from the time. A key game in both Kasparov's career and in chess history. This video footage captures the tension before the game, including no handshakes, which was then magnified in the game itself. Apart from the brief clips at the start, the main Kortchnoi v Kasparov coverage is from around 5 minutes in. Kortchnoi was armed with chain cigarettes and a Toblerone next to the board but it was not to be enough. The video captures the blitzing before move 40 (no increments) and resignation occurs suddenly via signed scoresheets. https://youtu.be/Vw4oxBXXldc?is=B9k4-0KNqVRDGx4a

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thank you, Paul.

The Olimpbase page on the match is here (with the games):

https://www.olimpbase.org/1982/1982fa10.html

The result was USSR 4-0 Switzerland

On the board in the foreground, you see IM Wirthensohn playing GM Tal (on board 3).

You also get a brief glimpse of Beliavsky on board 2.

Beliavsky was board 4 for the USSR (on board 2 for this match). Tal was first reserve, Yusupov second reserve.

Kasparov (aged 19) was their board 2 player but on board 1 for this match Karpov (board 1) had been rested.

Polugaevsky (board 3) had also been rested. Switzerland (apart from Kortschnoj - to use the Olimpbase transliteration) not very strong.

Not checked the rest of the footage.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Footage was a bit confusing as they showed some bits twice, and out of order. I think I spotted Robert Huebner in the foreground at one point and Quinteros in the background. It also seemed that Kasparov took off his jacket and put on a light sweater at some stage.

However, it was good to see the footage.