Fischer Walks Away: Karpov Wins Chess Title by Default
He walked away from a $250,000 prize and the crown he'd held for five years because of one clause about match length. Fischer didn't just lose; he vanished, leaving Anatoly Karpov to inherit a throne built on empty air while the world watched in stunned silence. The champion wasn't crowned through victory, but through a door slammed shut by a genius who refused to play on anyone's terms. Now we know the title belonged to the man waiting outside, not the one inside.
April 3, 1975
51 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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