Karpov vs Kasparov: When Chess Became War

Interwoven portraits of Anatoli Karpov and Garry Kasparov, whose fierce rivalry unfolded alongside the collapse of the Soviet Union. This is the story of two chess titans locked in a personal war amid a crumbling world. More than a mere contest of black and white pieces, their clash becomes a psychological drama and political thriller, revealing hostilities layered like Russian nesting dolls. Karpov vs. Kasparov mirrors the confrontation between a decaying empire and a new generation of liberals already several moves ahead, checkmating the old order. It is the tale of two narratives—societal and personal—beginning on separate boards but ultimately merging into one entwined story.