World Chess Championship 1987

The 1987 World Chess Championship was played between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov in Seville from October 12 to December 19, 1987. Before the 24th game, Kasparov was down 12–11, but in the 24th game, Kasparov made a comeback by using the English Opening to win the final game to retain his title.

1985 Interzonal tournaments
Three Interzonal tournaments were held in 1985 in Tunis, Taxco, and Biel, with four players qualifying from each.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! !! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! 17 !! Total !! Tie break
 * + April–May 1985 Interzonal, Tunis
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|Artur Yusupov || 2590 || - || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 11½ ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|Alexander Beliavsky || 2635 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 11 ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|🇭🇺 Lajos Portisch (HUN) || 2635 || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 10½ ||
 * 4 || align=left|Viktor Gavrikov || 2550 || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 9½ || 66.75
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 5 || align=left|Alexander Chernin || 2495 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 9½ || 65.75
 * 6 || align=left|Vlastimil Hort || 2560 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 9 || 66.25
 * 7 || align=left|🇳🇱 Gennadi Sosonko (NLD) || 2535 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 9 || 63.25
 * 8 || align=left|🇺🇸 Maxim Dlugy (US) || 2485 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 9 || 62.75
 * 9 || align=left|🇺🇸 Nick de Firmian (US) || 2540 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 8½ ||
 * 10 || align=left|Predrag Nikolić || 2575 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 8 || 58.75
 * 11 || align=left|🇷🇴 Mihai Șubă (ROU) || 2465 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || - || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8 || 55.25
 * 12 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tony Miles (ENG) || 2570 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 8 || 55.00
 * 13 || align=left|🇨🇱 Iván Morovic (CHL) || 2450 || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 7½ ||
 * 14 || align=left|🇨🇴 Alonso Zapata (COL) || 2535 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 6½ || 50.00
 * 15 || align=left|🇧🇬 Evgenij Ermenkov (BGR) || 2515 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || 6½ || 45.75
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Assem Afifi (EGY) || 2370 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 3½ ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slaheddine Hmadi (TUN) || 2285 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 ||
 * }
 * 12 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tony Miles (ENG) || 2570 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 8 || 55.00
 * 13 || align=left|🇨🇱 Iván Morovic (CHL) || 2450 || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 7½ ||
 * 14 || align=left|🇨🇴 Alonso Zapata (COL) || 2535 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 6½ || 50.00
 * 15 || align=left|🇧🇬 Evgenij Ermenkov (BGR) || 2515 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || 6½ || 45.75
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Assem Afifi (EGY) || 2370 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 3½ ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slaheddine Hmadi (TUN) || 2285 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 ||
 * }
 * 15 || align=left|🇧🇬 Evgenij Ermenkov (BGR) || 2515 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || 6½ || 45.75
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Assem Afifi (EGY) || 2370 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 3½ ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slaheddine Hmadi (TUN) || 2285 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 ||
 * }
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slaheddine Hmadi (TUN) || 2285 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 ||
 * }

Yusupov, Beliavsky, and Portisch qualified outright, while Chernin beat Gavrikov 3½-2½ in a Moscow playoff to take the fourth spot. Slim Bouaziz also started the tournament, but withdrew after six rounds, having drawn only one game and lost the rest. His results are not counted in the table above.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! !! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! Total !! Tie break
 * + June 1985 Interzonal, Taxco
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|🇳🇱 Jan Timman (NLD) || 2650 || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1* || 12 ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|🇨🇺 Jesús Nogueiras (CUB) || 2545 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1* || 10½ ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|Mikhail Tal || 2565 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1* || 10 ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 4 || align=left|🇨🇦 Kevin Spraggett (CAN) || 2560 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 9 ||
 * 5 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jon Speelman (ENG) || 2530 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 8 ||
 * 6 || align=left|🇳🇴 Simen Agdestein (NOR) || 2500 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 7½ || 54.00
 * 7 || align=left|Mišo Cebalo || 2485 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 7½ || 51.75
 * 8 || align=left|🇺🇸 Lev Alburt (US) || 2535 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 7 ||
 * 9 || align=left|🇺🇸 Walter Browne (US) || 2530 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 6½ || 48.25
 * 10 || align=left|🇭🇺 József Pintér (HUN) || 2540 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 6½ || 47.75
 * 11 || align=left|🇨🇳 Qi Jingxuan (CHN) || 2440 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || - || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 6½ || 46.50
 * 12 || align=left|Oleg Romanishin || 2570 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || 1 || 0 || 6½ || 45.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇲🇽 Marcel Sisniega Campbell (MEX) || 2470 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || 1* || 6½ || 44.50
 * 14 || align=left|Eduard Prandstetter || 2430 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || ½ || 6 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇦🇪 Saeed Ahmed Saeed (ARE) || 2400 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || - || 1 || 5½ ||
 * 16 || align=left|Yuri Balashov || 2495 || 0* || 0* || 0* || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0* || ½ || 0 || - || 4½ ||
 * }
 * 11 || align=left|🇨🇳 Qi Jingxuan (CHN) || 2440 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || - || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 6½ || 46.50
 * 12 || align=left|Oleg Romanishin || 2570 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || 1 || 0 || 6½ || 45.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇲🇽 Marcel Sisniega Campbell (MEX) || 2470 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || 1* || 6½ || 44.50
 * 14 || align=left|Eduard Prandstetter || 2430 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || ½ || 6 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇦🇪 Saeed Ahmed Saeed (ARE) || 2400 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || - || 1 || 5½ ||
 * 16 || align=left|Yuri Balashov || 2495 || 0* || 0* || 0* || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0* || ½ || 0 || - || 4½ ||
 * }
 * 15 || align=left|🇦🇪 Saeed Ahmed Saeed (ARE) || 2400 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || - || 1 || 5½ ||
 * 16 || align=left|Yuri Balashov || 2495 || 0* || 0* || 0* || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0* || ½ || 0 || - || 4½ ||
 * }
 * 16 || align=left|Yuri Balashov || 2495 || 0* || 0* || 0* || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0* || ½ || 0 || - || 4½ ||
 * }

Balashov withdrew after 11 rounds. His last four unplayed games are marked with an asterisk (*).


 * {| class="wikitable"

! !! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! 17 !! 18 !! Total !! Tie break
 * + July 1985 Interzonal, Biel
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|Rafael Vaganian || 2625 || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 12½ ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|🇺🇸 Yasser Seirawan (US) || 2570 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 11½ ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|Andrei Sokolov || 2555 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 11 ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 4 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nigel Short (ENG) || 2575 || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 10½ || 83.75
 * 5 || align=left|🇳🇱 John van der Wiel (NLD) || 2520 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || - || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 10½ || 81.25
 * 6 || align=left|🇵🇭 Eugenio Torre (PHL) || 2535 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 10½ || 80.50
 * 7 || align=left|Lev Polugaevsky || 2600 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 9½ || 79.00
 * 8 || align=left|Ljubomir Ljubojević || 2615 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 9½ || 78.25
 * 9 || align=left|🇸🇪 Ulf Andersson (SWE) || 2590 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 9½ || 77.00
 * 10 || align=left|🇨🇺 Amador Rodríguez Céspedes (CUB) || 2505 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 8 || 63.75
 * 11 || align=left|🇭🇺 Gyula Sax (HUN) || 2535 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 8 || 62.50
 * 12 || align=left|Vlastimil Jansa || 2480 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || - || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 7½ || 57.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇦🇷 Miguel Quinteros (ARG) || 2525 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || - || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 7½ || 52.25
 * 14 || align=left|🇮🇸 Margeir Petursson (ISL) || 2550 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 7 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇮🇱 Lev Gutman (ISR) || 2485 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || 0 || 6½ ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇳 Li Zunian (CHN) || 2465 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || ½ || ½ || 6 ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇭 Charles Partos (CHE) || 2425 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 4 ||
 * 18 || align=left|🇪🇸 Ángel Martín González (ESP) || 2430 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || 3½ ||
 * }
 * 12 || align=left|Vlastimil Jansa || 2480 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || - || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 7½ || 57.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇦🇷 Miguel Quinteros (ARG) || 2525 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || - || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 7½ || 52.25
 * 14 || align=left|🇮🇸 Margeir Petursson (ISL) || 2550 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 7 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇮🇱 Lev Gutman (ISR) || 2485 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || 0 || 6½ ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇳 Li Zunian (CHN) || 2465 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || ½ || ½ || 6 ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇭 Charles Partos (CHE) || 2425 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 4 ||
 * 18 || align=left|🇪🇸 Ángel Martín González (ESP) || 2430 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || 3½ ||
 * }
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇳 Li Zunian (CHN) || 2465 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || ½ || ½ || 6 ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇭 Charles Partos (CHE) || 2425 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || 4 ||
 * 18 || align=left|🇪🇸 Ángel Martín González (ESP) || 2430 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || 3½ ||
 * }
 * 18 || align=left|🇪🇸 Ángel Martín González (ESP) || 2430 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || 3½ ||
 * }

Short, van der Wiel, and Torre contested a playoff, also in Biel, for the fourth and final spot in the Candidates Tournament. Short and van der Wiel were tied with 3½ points each, while Torre scored 2 points, so Short qualified on a better tie break score from the main event.

The highest placed non-qualifying player from each Interzonal met in London in September 1985 to play for the position as first reserve in the Candidates Tournament. Speelman won with 4½ points, ahead of Gavrikov (4) and van der Wiel (3½). No reserve was needed, however.

1985–87 Candidates Tournament
The 12 qualifiers from the Interzonals were joined in the Candidates Tournament by three seeded players: Smyslov, Korchnoi, and Ribli (no. 2-4 from the previous tournament). The final spot went to Spassky, who was given a wild card by the organizers.

These 16 players first played a round-robin in Montpellier in October and November 1985, from which the top 4 would qualify for the knock-out phase.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! !! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! Total !! Tie break
 * + 1985 Candidates Tournament
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|Artur Yusupov || 2600 || - || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 9 || 65.75
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|Rafael Vaganian || 2625 || 1 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 9 || 64.00
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|Andrei Sokolov || 2555 || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 9 || 63.25
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 4 || align=left|🇳🇱 Jan Timman (NLD) || 2640 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 8½ || 65.25
 * 5 || align=left|Mikhail Tal || 2565 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 8½ || 62.50
 * 6 || align=left|🇫🇷 Boris Spassky (FRA) || 2590 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 8 || 60.25
 * 7 || align=left|Alexander Beliavsky || 2640 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 8 || 58.25
 * 8 || align=left|Vasily Smyslov || 2595 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 7½ || 55.25
 * 9 || align=left|Alexander Chernin || 2560 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 7½ || 54.50
 * 10 || align=left|🇺🇸 Yasser Seirawan (US) || 2570 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 7 || 52.75
 * 11 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nigel Short (ENG) || 2575 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 7 || 51.50
 * 12 || align=left|🇭🇺 Lajos Portisch (HUN) || 2625 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 7 || 50.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇨🇭 Viktor Korchnoi (CHE) || 2630 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 6½ || 46.50
 * 14 || align=left|🇭🇺 Zoltán Ribli (HUN) || 2605 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 6½ || 46.50
 * 15 || align=left|🇨🇺 Jesús Nogueiras (CUB) || 2545 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇦 Kevin Spraggett (CAN) || 2550 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 5 ||
 * }
 * 11 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nigel Short (ENG) || 2575 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 7 || 51.50
 * 12 || align=left|🇭🇺 Lajos Portisch (HUN) || 2625 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 7 || 50.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇨🇭 Viktor Korchnoi (CHE) || 2630 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 6½ || 46.50
 * 14 || align=left|🇭🇺 Zoltán Ribli (HUN) || 2605 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 6½ || 46.50
 * 15 || align=left|🇨🇺 Jesús Nogueiras (CUB) || 2545 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇦 Kevin Spraggett (CAN) || 2550 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 5 ||
 * }
 * 15 || align=left|🇨🇺 Jesús Nogueiras (CUB) || 2545 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || - || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇦 Kevin Spraggett (CAN) || 2550 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 5 ||
 * }
 * 16 || align=left|🇨🇦 Kevin Spraggett (CAN) || 2550 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 5 ||
 * }

A playoff match for fourth place was held after the main event. It ended 3-3, and Timman advanced because he had more wins during the tournament (4 against Tal's 3).

The top 4 from the round-robin played a series of matches in 1986, the winner of which (Sokolov) in turn got to play Anatoly Karpov in a final match in Linares to determine the championship challenger.

Karpov had earned the special privilege of being seeded directly into this match as part of the agreement regarding the controversial championship matches of 1984, 1985, and 1986.


 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! Total
 * +Challenger Match February–March 1987
 * align=left | Andrei Sokolov
 * ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || 0 || 3½
 * align=left | Anatoly Karpov
 * style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1
 * style="background:black; color:white"| 1 || 7½
 * }
 * style="background:black; color:white"| 1 || 7½
 * }

Karpov won, thus earning the right to face Kasparov in a championship match for the fourth year in a row.

1987 Championship match
The best-of-24 match was tied after 22 games. On his 50th move of game 23 Kasparov played a sacrifice that he thought would win the game and the match, but Karpov found a refutation on move 53 and won the game a few moves later, leaving Kasparov needing to win the final game to retain his title. In a tense and dramatic 24th game, Karpov ran low on thinking time and Kasparov seized a chance to sacrifice a pawn for an attack. In desperate time pressure Karpov missed the best defence and by the time the game was adjourned on move 42 Kasparov was a pawn up. Exploiting another mistake by Karpov in the second session of play, Kasparov slowly built his advantage until Karpov resigned on move 64. The match thus ended in a 12–12 tie, with Kasparov remaining World Champion.


 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! 17 !! 18 !! 19 !! 20 !! 21 !! 22 !! 23 !! 24 !! Points
 * +World Chess Championship Match 1987
 * align=left | Garry Kasparov || 2740
 * style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 0 ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"|0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|1 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 0 ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|0 || 1 || 12
 * align=left | Anatoly Karpov || 2700
 * ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|1 || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|0 || 1 || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 0 ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|1 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 1 || style="background:black; color:white"|0 ||12
 * }
 * ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|1 || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|0 || 1 || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 0 ||style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"|1 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || ½ || style="background:black; color:white"|½ || 1 || style="background:black; color:white"|0 ||12
 * }