Life and Chess

Anatoly Karpov needs no introduction. The name of the twelfth world chess champion is known even to those who are not interested in the game at all. The number of his titles, awards, accolades, interests, and activities is overwhelming, his schedule is still booked for several years ahead, and for the first time this Man of the World has found time for an open account of his journey to the Olympics. How to achieve success? How to withstand the world of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and cunning intrigues? How not to lose oneself while combining for a long time the roles of a great athlete, statesman, world-famous philatelist, president of the Peace Fund, deputy of the State Duma, and head of a huge number of chess clubs and schools? You will learn about this and more from the captivating autobiography of the champion. Life in the Soviet Union and modern Russia, travels around the world and impressions of favorite cities and countries, entertaining stories about encounters with great actors, artists, musicians, athletes, and politicians – this is just part of what the great chess player shares. For the first time, the full story of the rivalry with Korchnoi and Kasparov and the harsh truth about the struggle with Ilyumzhinov for the presidency of FIDE is revealed. This book will be appreciated not only by chess fans and memoir lovers but also by connoisseurs of history, adventures, political thrillers, and even glossy magazines about the lives of celebrities. After all, Anatoly Karpov has never played such an intriguing game before.