VALENCIA (Spain), September 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov won the first two rapid games against his long-time rival Anatoly Karpov in a showdown in Valencia.
Kasparov won the first game, playing black pieces, with an over 8-minute advantage and the second game, playing white pieces, with a three-minute advantage.
Between September 22 and 24 they are playing a 12-game match, involving four rapid and eight blitz games.
Prior to the encounter Karpov had all but retired and Kasparov had officially quit chess to focus on politics.
The result of their first showdown, a five-month world championship epic struggle in 1984, was terminated by chess authorities due to the large number of draws. Their second meeting took place a year later in Moscow with a 23-year-old Kasparov defeating Karpov 13-11 to become the youngest world champion.
