Mate of the King

Karpov - Ghaemmaghami Match

26 Jan. to 03 Feb. 2008, Tehran-Iran

In celebrattion of the 30th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, the Iran Chess Federation has the honor to organize the Combined Match between former world champion GM Anatoly Karpov of Russia and GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran from 26 January till 03 February 2009 in Tehran.

Checkmate comes from the Persian "Shah Mat". Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi fled Iran in January 1979 after strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country, and on February 1, 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Tehran to a greeting by several million Iranians. The Iranian Revolution (mostly known as the Islamic Revolution) was the revolution that transformed Iran from a constitutional monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic. It has been called "the third great revolution in history," following the French and Bolshevik revolutions, and an event that "made Islamic fundamentalism a political force ... from Morocco to Malaysia.

The match, therefore, is more than just a chess event and it shall be attended by top government officials.




The FIDE Laws of Chess will apply with the following exception: as a Special Condition for the Public and Media, all games should continue until the last playable move on the board. The system is the brainchild of Iranian Chess Federation FIDE Delegate Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Asian Chess Federation Treasurer. A player cannot offer a draw or even resign the game. In a losing position a player should continue until mate and in a drawn position should continue until three time repetition of Position or until lack of mating pieces for both sides or stalemate. Comments on this revolutionary system may be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Chief Arbiter will not accept any violation of the players against the basic rules.

The Program includes 3 parts: Classical Games, Rapid Games and Blitz Games.
Time Control of Classical Games is 90 Min. + 30 Sec./Move (Fischer Mode increment from move One).
Time Control of Rapid Games is 25 Min. + 10 Sec./Move (Fischer Mode increment from move One).
Time Control of Blitz Games is 4 Min. + 2 Sec./Move (Delay time increment from move one).

Schedule:
26 January 2009  Arrival
                          Press Conference    10:30
27 January 2009  Opening Ceremony  14:00
                          Round 1                  14:30  Classical Games
28 January 2009  Round 2                  14:30  Classical Games
29 January 2009  Round 3                  14:30  Classical Games
30 January 2009  Rest day
31 January 2009  Round 4                  14:30  Classical Games
01 January 2009  Rounds 1-4             14:30  Rapid Games
02 February 2009 Rounds 1-6            12:00  Blitz Games
                          Rounds 7-12           15:30 Blitz Games
                          Closing Ceremony  18:30