World Chess Championship 1990

The World Chess Championship 1990 was played between Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. It was the fifth and final Kasparov–Karpov championship match, and saw Kasparov win by a single point.

1987 Interzonal tournaments
Three Interzonals were held in the summer of 1987, with 16 to 18 players playing in each and the top three scorers from each qualifying.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! !! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! Total !! Tie break
 * + June–July 1987 Interzonal, Subotica
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|🇭🇺 Gyula Sax (HUN) || 2570 || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 10½ || 74.25
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Nigel Short (ENG) || 2615 || 0 || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 10½ || 73.00
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jon Speelman (ENG) || 2550 || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 10½ || 70.75
 * 4 || align=left|Mikhail Tal || 2605 || ½ || ½ || 1 || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 10 || 72.50
 * 5 || align=left|🇭🇺 Zoltán Ribli (HUN) || 2580 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 10 || 63.25
 * 6 || align=left|🇨🇺 Amador Rodríguez Céspedes (CUB) || 2495 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8½ ||
 * 7 || align=left|Slavoljub Marjanović || 2505 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 8 ||
 * 8 || align=left|Vasily Smyslov || 2550 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 7½ || 52.00
 * 9 || align=left|Alexander Chernin || 2570 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 7½ || 51.00
 * 10 || align=left|Petar Popović || 2540 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || - || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 7 ||
 * 11 || align=left|🇨🇴 Alonso Zapata (COL) || 2505 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 6½ ||
 * 12 || align=left|🇸🇪 Thomas Ernst (SWE) || 2465 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 6 ||
 * 13 || align=left|🇺🇸 Lev Alburt (US) || 2575 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 5½ ||
 * 14 || align=left|🇨🇳 Xu Jun (CHN) || 2495 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 5 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇮🇳 Devaki Prasad (IND) || 2425 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 4 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Ahmed Ibrahim Hamed (EGY) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 3 ||
 * }
 * 11 || align=left|🇨🇴 Alonso Zapata (COL) || 2505 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 6½ ||
 * 12 || align=left|🇸🇪 Thomas Ernst (SWE) || 2465 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 6 ||
 * 13 || align=left|🇺🇸 Lev Alburt (US) || 2575 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 5½ ||
 * 14 || align=left|🇨🇳 Xu Jun (CHN) || 2495 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 5 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇮🇳 Devaki Prasad (IND) || 2425 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 4 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Ahmed Ibrahim Hamed (EGY) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 3 ||
 * }
 * 14 || align=left|🇨🇳 Xu Jun (CHN) || 2495 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || 5 ||
 * 15 || align=left|🇮🇳 Devaki Prasad (IND) || 2425 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || - || ½ || 4 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Ahmed Ibrahim Hamed (EGY) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 3 ||
 * }
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇬 Ahmed Ibrahim Hamed (EGY) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 3 ||
 * }

In the first tournament in Subotica, Sax, Short, and Speelman qualified. Lubomir Kavalek withdrew after six rounds; his results are not included in the totals for the other players. Robert Hübner was invited, but declined to participate. As a result, Ribli had a free day during the last round. To show his displeasure, he refused to take part in a playoff against Tal, which could have been important, if a reserve spot had opened up in the Candidates Tournament.


 * {| 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–August 1987 Interzonal, Szirak
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|Valery Salov || 2575 || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 12½ || 97.25
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|🇮🇸 Jóhann Hjartarson (ISL) || 2550 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 12½ || 96.50
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|🇭🇺 Lajos Portisch (HUN) || 2615 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 12 || 98.50
 * 4 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 John Nunn (ENG) || 2585 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 12 || 92.50
 * 5 || align=left|Alexander Beliavsky || 2630 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 11 ||
 * 6 || align=left|🇸🇪 Ulf Andersson (SWE) || 2600 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || 10½ ||
 * 7 || align=left|Ljubomir Ljubojević || 2625 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 10 ||
 * 8 || align=left|🇺🇸 Larry Christiansen (US) || 2575 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 9 ||
 * 9 || align=left|🇺🇸 Joel Benjamin (US) || 2575 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8½ || 61.75
 * 10 || align=left|Miodrag Todorcevic || 2475 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8½ || 59.75
 * 11 || align=left|🇷🇴 Mihail Marin (ROU) || 2475 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 7½ || 52.75
 * 12 || align=left|Dragoljub Velimirović || 2520 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 7½ || 51.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇭🇺 András Adorján (HUN) || 2540 || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 7 || 55.00
 * 14 || align=left|🇧🇷 Gilberto Milos (BRA) || 2495 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 7 || 49.75
 * 15 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Glenn Flear (ENG) || 2480 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇸 Jesús de la Villa (ESP) || 2485 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || 1 || 5½ ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slim Bouaziz (TUN) || 2370 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || - || ½ || 4½ ||
 * 18 || align=left|🇨🇦 Denis Allan (CAN) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * 12 || align=left|Dragoljub Velimirović || 2520 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 7½ || 51.75
 * 13 || align=left|🇭🇺 András Adorján (HUN) || 2540 || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 7 || 55.00
 * 14 || align=left|🇧🇷 Gilberto Milos (BRA) || 2495 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || 0 || 1 || 7 || 49.75
 * 15 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Glenn Flear (ENG) || 2480 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || 1 || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇸 Jesús de la Villa (ESP) || 2485 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || 1 || 5½ ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slim Bouaziz (TUN) || 2370 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || - || ½ || 4½ ||
 * 18 || align=left|🇨🇦 Denis Allan (CAN) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * 16 || align=left|🇪🇸 Jesús de la Villa (ESP) || 2485 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || 1 || 5½ ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇹🇳 Slim Bouaziz (TUN) || 2370 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || - || ½ || 4½ ||
 * 18 || align=left|🇨🇦 Denis Allan (CAN) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * 18 || align=left|🇨🇦 Denis Allan (CAN) || 2310 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * }

In the Szirák tournament, Valery Salov and Jóhann Hjartarson finished at the top of the table, while Lajos Portisch and John Nunn tied for third. The last place in the Candidates Tournament was decided in a separate playoff in Budapest, with Portisch defeating Nunn 4–2.


 * {| class="wikitable"

! !! !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16 !! 17 !! Total !! Tie break
 * + August 1987 Interzonal, Zagreb
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 1 || align=left|🇨🇭 Viktor Korchnoi (CHE) || 2630 || - || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 11 ||
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 2 || align=left|Jaan Ehlvest || 2540 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 10 || 80.75
 * - style="background:#ccffcc;"
 * 3 || align=left|🇺🇸 Yasser Seirawan (US) || 2600 || 0 || ½ || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 10 || 73.50
 * 4 || align=left|🇨🇺 Jesús Nogueiras (CUB) || 2555 || 1 || ½ || 0 || - || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 9½ || 71.00
 * 5 || align=left|Predrag Nikolić || 2620 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || - || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 9½ || 67.50
 * 6 || align=left|🇵🇪 Julio Granda (PER) || 2525 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 9½ || 67.50
 * 7 || align=left|🇵🇭 Eugenio Torre (PHL) || 2540 || 1 || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || 9 ||
 * 8 || align=left|Lev Polugaevsky || 2595 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || 8½ || 65.25
 * 9 || align=left|Vereslav Eingorn || 2575 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || 8½ || 61.25
 * 10 || align=left|🇮🇱 Yehuda Gruenfeld (ISR) || 2545 || 0 || 1 || 0 || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || - || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8½ || 59.50
 * 11 || align=left|🇭🇺 József Pintér (HUN) || 2575 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8½ || 59.25
 * 12 || align=left|Krunoslav Hulak || 2495 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 7½ ||
 * 13 || align=left|🇧🇬 Ventzislav Inkiov (BGR) || 2485 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 7 ||
 * 14 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tony Miles (ENG) || 2585 || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || 0 || 1 || 6½ ||
 * 15 || align=left|Dragan Barlov || 2555 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || - || ½ || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|Jörg Hickl || 2455 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || 5 ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇦 Fletcher Baragar (CAN) || 2320 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * 11 || align=left|🇭🇺 József Pintér (HUN) || 2575 || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 1 || 1 || - || 1 || 0 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 1 || 8½ || 59.25
 * 12 || align=left|Krunoslav Hulak || 2495 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 1 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || ½ || 1 || ½ || 1 || 1 || 7½ ||
 * 13 || align=left|🇧🇬 Ventzislav Inkiov (BGR) || 2485 || ½ || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 7 ||
 * 14 || align=left|🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tony Miles (ENG) || 2585 || ½ || 0 || 1 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || ½ || ½ || ½ || ½ || 0 || ½ || - || 0 || 0 || 1 || 6½ ||
 * 15 || align=left|Dragan Barlov || 2555 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || - || ½ || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|Jörg Hickl || 2455 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || 5 ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇦 Fletcher Baragar (CAN) || 2320 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * 15 || align=left|Dragan Barlov || 2555 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 1 || - || ½ || 1 || 6 ||
 * 16 || align=left|Jörg Hickl || 2455 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 1 || ½ || - || 1 || 5 ||
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇦 Fletcher Baragar (CAN) || 2320 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || 1½ ||
 * }
 * 17 || align=left|🇨🇦 Fletcher Baragar (CAN) || 2320 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || ½ || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || 1½ ||
 * }

Viktor Korchnoi emerged as winner of the last tournament in Zagreb, ahead of Jaan Ehlvest and Yasser Seirawan. In an extra playoff in Havana in November, Nikolić took the place as reserve for the Candidates Tournament with 6 points, ahead of Granda (4) and Nogueiras (2). No reserve was needed, however.

1988–90 Candidates Tournament
In addition to nine players from the Interzonals, the top four of the previous Candidates Tournament (Sokolov, Timman, Vaganian, and Yusupov) qualified directly for this tournament. The Canadian organizers of the preliminary matches (which were held in Saint John, New Brunswick) nominated one player, (Spraggett). Finally, Karpov, the challenger in the previous cycle, was seeded into the quarterfinals.

Karpov won, once again facing Kasparov for the fifth and final time in seven years. Karpov later alleged that a Dutch sponsor had offered to pay him to lose the match against Timman.

1990 Championship match
The first twelve games were played in New York City (8 October – 7 November), the other twelve taking place in Lyon, France (26 November – 30 December).


 * {| 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 !! Total
 * +World Chess Championship Match 1990
 * align=left | Anatoly Karpov || 2730
 * ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ ||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 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 11½
 * align=left | 🇷🇺 Garry Kasparov (RUS) || 2800
 * style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 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"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ || 12½
 * }
 * 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 || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || 1 ||style="background:black; color:white"| ½ || ½ ||style="background:black; color:white"| 0 || ½ || 12½
 * }

Kasparov won the match and retained his title.

Flag controversy
Although still a Soviet citizen, Kasparov refused to play the Championship match under the flag of the USSR. Instead, he wanted to use the Russian flag (not the flag of the RSFSR, but the old tri-color) which, incidentally, would be re-adopted after the collapse of the Soviet Union a year later. Kasparov was indeed allowed to play with a small Russian tri-color at the table.