Wow, not a surprise given his age (85), but he often seemed like the kind of guy who had enough piss and vinegar that he could last past 100. I’ve played over many games of his and admired his willingness to take proffered material, no matter how dangerous, and then defend fantastically.
His duels with Karpov are legend, though they never ended in his favor in match play.
RIP.
He was my prime chess hero during the time in my life I took chess most seriously (back when he was dueling with Karpov and the Soviet establishment). Sad to see him taken off the board.
The linked Chessbase article is very good. I liked the point Korchnoi noted about playing matches against Grandmasters born 101 years apart: Levenfish (1889) and Carlsen (1990).
Just posted this in the Dead pool, more appropriate here.
Korchnoi (White) - Karpov (Black) (Black to move)
.a .b .c .d .e .f .g .h
︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎|8
︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎♖|7
︎:black_medium_square:︎♜:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎|6
︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎|5
♙◼︎◻︎◼︎♞◼︎◻︎◼︎|4
︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎|3
︎:black_medium_square:︎:white_medium_square:︎♞♚:black_medium_square:︎♙♙|2
♖◻︎◼︎◻︎◼︎◻︎♔◻︎|1
RIP
After Nf3+! Korchnoi resigned as it was mate in 2 or less moves (Game 17 1978 World Championship)