Classical World Championship 1993: Kasparov – Short
Furious at FIDE's handling of the venue and prize fund, Kasparov and his challenger Nigel Short broke away entirely — playing their title match under a new body, the Professional Chess Association, at the Savoy Theatre. The chess was one-sided; the schism it opened would divide the world championship for thirteen years.
◈The breakaway
When FIDE president Florencio Campomanes named Manchester as host without consulting the players — ignoring a larger London bid — Kasparov and Short announced at Linares that they would play outside FIDE's authority. They founded the Professional Chess Association; FIDE retaliated by stripping both of their titles and staging its own Karpov–Timman match in parallel.
The chess world now had two champions. Public opinion sided with Kasparov, whose lineage ran unbroken back to the classical title, but the rift would not be healed until the reunification match of 2006.
◈“Short, and it will be short”
Asked before the Candidates who his challenger would be, Kasparov had quipped, “It will be Short and it will be short.” He was right. Short lost the opening game on time from a superior position and never recovered; Kasparov built a commanding lead and cruised.
Short's only win came in game 16, greeted by a thunderous ovation from the Savoy audience. Kasparov sealed the match early, 12½–7½, with six wins to a single defeat.
◈Cross Table
| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasparov | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 12½ |
| Short | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7½ |
1 win · ½ draw · 0 loss — click a game number to replay it.