Who Is Anatoly Karpov? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on May 23, 1951, Anatoly Karpov is currently 73 years old. Renowned for his extraordinary capability and strategic acumen on the chessboard, Karpov gained recognition as the World Chess Champion from 1975 to 1985 and later as a classical World Chess Champion until 1993. His Wikipedia page provides a comprehensive overview of his illustrious career and achievements, which display not only his phenomenal gameplay but also his dedication to the intellectual sport of chess.
Read more about Anatoly Karpov on Wikipedia
| Occupation | Chess Player |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 23, 1951 |
| Age | 74 Years |
| Birth Place | Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | Russia |
Popularity
Anatoly Karpov's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Anatoly Karpov stands at approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. His weight fluctuates but is typically around 150 lbs (68 kg). While Karpov is not known for athleticism in the traditional sense, his mental agility and sharpness have always been his strongest attributes, showcasing the mental stamina required in high-level chess matches.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Anatoly Karpov keeps his personal life rather private. He was previously married to Marietta Karpov, with whom he has a daughter named Anna. While there has been no public record of a current boyfriend or girlfriend, Karpov continues to focus on his career and contributions to chess.
Net Worth and Salary
Anatoly Karpov's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million as of 2025. His wealth primarily stems from multiple chess championships, endorsements, and his role as a chess commentator and ambassador. Karpov has also authored several books on chess strategy, further adding to his income.
Career, Business and Investments
Karpov's professional journey has seen various phases, from being a world champion to an influential chess promoter. Beyond active play, he has engaged in various business ventures related to chess, including coaching and organizing tournaments. Karpov has also invested in educational programs to promote chess among the youth, showcasing his commitment to mentoring future generations of players.
The Candidates' final was played in Moscow with Victor Korchnoi. Karpov took an early lead, winning the second game against the Sicilian Dragon, then scoring another victory in the sixth game. Following ten consecutive draws, Korchnoi threw away a winning position in the seventeenth game to give Karpov a 3–0 lead.
In game 19, Korchnoi succeeded in winning a long endgame, then notched a speedy victory after a blunder by Karpov two games later. Three more draws, the last agreed by Karpov when he was in a clearly better position, closed the match, with Karpov prevailing +3−2=19, entitling him to move on to challenge Fischer for the world title.
Social Network
Anatoly Karpov is active on several social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. He shares insights about chess, personal reflections, and updates on his initiatives in promoting the game. Fans and followers often take advantage of this platform to engage with him, reflecting his enduring influence and popularity in the chess community.
The next major meeting of Kasparov and Karpov was the 1994 Linares chess tournament. The field, in eventual finishing order, was Karpov, Kasparov, Shirov, Bareev, Kramnik, Lautier, Anand, Kamsky, Topalov, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Illescas, Judit Polgár, and Beliavsky; with an average Elo rating of 2685, the highest ever at that time.
Impressed by the strength of the tournament, Kasparov had said several days before the tournament that the winner could rightly be called the world champion of tournaments. Perhaps spurred on by this comment, Karpov played the best tournament of his life.
He was undefeated and earned 11 points out of 13 (the best world-class tournament winning percentage since Alekhine won San Remo in 1930), finishing 2½ points ahead of second-place Kasparov and Shirov. Many of his wins were spectacular (in particular, his win over Topalov is considered possibly the finest of his career).
This performance against the best players in the world put his Elo rating tournament performance at 2985, the highest performance rating of any player in history up until 2009, when Magnus Carlsen won the category XXI Pearl Spring chess tournament with a performance of 3002.
Chess statistician Jeff Sonas considers Karpov's Linares performance the best tournament result in history.
Education
Karpov pursued his education in the field of chess from a very young age. His remarkable natural talent was further honed under the guidance of renowned coaches. He also attended the Nakhimov Naval School and eventually graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physical Education, which helped provide a solid foundation for his strategic thinking and mental discipline in chess.
In conclusion, Anatoly Karpov stands as an inspiring figure whose legacy extends beyond the chessboard. As we look to the future, his contributions to the game and its community will likely continue to thrive, proving that age is just a number in the realm of intellectual pursuit.
His early rise in chess was swift, as he became a candidate master by age 11. At 12, he was accepted into Mikhail Botvinnik's prestigious chess school, though Botvinnik made the following remark about the young Karpov: "The boy does not have a clue about chess, and there's no future at all for him in this profession."
