Word: korchnoi
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Karpov wins despite Korchnoi's complaints...
...Today, Korchnoi is the Lear of chess: pacing and grimacing, given to lavish tirades and, on occasion, paranoia. During a qualifying match with Spassky earlier this year, he accused his opponent of inducing hallucinations via hypnosis, and even suspected microwaves had been employed to destroy his concentration. In Baguio City last week he demanded the right to bring to the match a fountain pen-sized device designed to detect "X rays, gamma rays and other radiation...
Karpov is also one of the fastest players around, while Korchnoi is very slow; he has lost matches for failing to make the stipulated 40 moves in five hours of play. In Baguio City, the first player to win six games takes the match; since draws are frequent in top-level play, the men will need both ample patience and stamina. To keep in shape, Korchnoi jogs daily; his diet includes health foods and Iranian caviar-of which he has imported enough to last 30 games. Karpov, whom one observer likened to "a Boy Scout," swims, rows and does calisthenics...
Many experts believe that Korchnoi's game has improved since his defection, and that the frail Karpov could be worn down physically if the match goes on for very long. Still, he is the favorite: he has won 13 of the 16 tournaments he has entered since he became champion, and has lost only six of 187 games...
...Baguio City. Karpov, if he is victorious, would have to turn perhaps half his $350,000 winner's share of prize money over to the Soviet government. But that should not hurt too much, given the amenities made available to him, which include a chauffeur-driven Mercedes. For Korchnoi, who lives modestly in Wohlen, Switzerland, and earns some $3,000 a month from exhibitions and tournaments, the money would come in handy, especially should he lose a $100,000 breach of contract suit being brought against him by his ex-manager...