Anatoly Karpov - Miroslav Miljkovic

Anatoly Karpov - Miroslav Miljkovic Match

3rd and 4th December in Niš, Serbia (schedule slightly changed)

Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov continues the series of rapid events with a six-games match against IM Miroslav Miljkovic (elo 2506) on 3rd and 4th December in Niš, Serbia.

The playing venue will be in the Niš City Hall and the Mayor Miloš Simonović will make the ceremonial move. The City of Niš is sponsoring the match and Niš Chess Union is the technical organizer.

Four games will be played with the time control of 25 min+10 sec per player while the remaining two will be blitz with 5 min+2 sec per player (schedule bellow). The games will be broadcasted on the internet and TV Bell Amie will cover the match live.

Schedule

3rd December
17:30 - Press conference in the City Hall
18:15 - 1st rapid game
19:40 - 2nd rapid game

4th December
15:00 - 3rd rapid game
16:30 - 4th rapid game
18:00 - 1st blitz game
18:20 - 2nd blitz game
18:40 - Closing ceremony

Niš (pronounced Nish, Roman: Naisus) is the largest city in southern Serbia and the third-largest city in the country (after Belgrade and Novi Sad). According to the data from May 2009, Niš has 253,077 inhabitants. The city covers an area of about 597 square kilometres, including the urban area, the Niška Banja spa and 68 suburbs.

It is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans, and has from ancient times been considered a gateway between the East and the West. Niš is also notable as the birthplace of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor and the founder of Constantinople, as well as two other Roman emperors, Constantius III and Justin I.

In 2013 the city will host the Ecumenical Assembly of Christian Churches, in honour to 1700 years of Constantine's Edict of Milan.

Karpov takes day 1 match lead

Karpov won with White and drew with Black. He is leading 1.5 - 0.5 with 2 more rapid games and 2 blitz games to play.

Karpov, Anatoly (2619) - Miljkovic, Miroslav (2506)Rapid Chess Nis, Serbia (1), 2010.12.03

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.O-O Bd6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Rd1 Re8 11.Qe2 Qe712.Bd2 a6 13.Be1 Rac8 14.Rac1 dxc4 15.Bxc4 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Bb3 Nb6 18.Qf3 Red8 19.Ne4 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Nbd521.Nxc5 Qxc5 22.e4 Ne7 23.Bc3 Qg5 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Rd7 Nc6 27.Rxb7 Na5 28.Rb4 Nxb3 29.Rxb3 Rc230.f3 Kg7 31.Kh2 a5 32.a3 a4 33.Rb5 e5 34.h4 Rd2 35.Kh3 Rf2 36.Rb6 Kg6 37.Rb7 Kg7 38.h5 Rd2 39.g3 Rc2 40.Kg4Rf2 41.Rb4 Rc2 42.f4 exf4 43.gxf4 Rg2+ 44.Kf5 h6 45.Rb6 Rh2 46.Rxf6 Rxb2 47.Ra6 Rh2 48.Kg4 Rg2+ 49.Kh3 Re250.Rxa4 Re1 51.Kg2 Re3 52.Kf2 Rh3 53.Ra5 Rb3 54.Kg2 Re3 55.e5 f6 56.Ra7+ Kf8 57.exf6 Re6 58.f7 Re3 59.a4 Ra360.a5 Kg7 61.a6 Kf8 62.Kf2 Kg7 63.Ke2 Kf8 64.Kd2 Ra5 65.Ke3 Ra4 66.Kd3 Kg7 67.Kc3 Kf8 68.Kb3 Ra1 69.Kc4 Ra570.Kb4 Ra1 71.Kc5 Rc1+ 72.Kd6 Rb1 1-0

Click here to replay game 1.