Karpov vs. Korchnoi: The 1981 World Chess Championship

The 1981 World Chess Championship was held from October 1 to November 19, 1981, in Merano, Italy. The match featured Anatoly Karpov, the reigning World Champion, defending his title against Viktor Korchnoi, the challenger. Karpov secured victory with a decisive score of 6–2, winning six games, losing two, and drawing ten. This match was a rematch of their previous encounter in 1978, which Karpov had also won. The 1981 match was dubbed the "Massacre in Merano" due to the one-sided nature of Karpov's victory. Off the board, the match was marked by political tensions, as Korchnoi's family had been denied emigration from the Soviet Union, adding a layer of personal and ideological conflict to the championship.