Any guesses who will win the Kasparov - Karpov rematch? What will the score be?

I think Magnus Carlsen will win it

uuuuhh....

Kasparov hands down xD

I gotta go for Anatoly!

Considering that Karpov had such a good record against Kasparov:

Karpov remained a formidable opponent (and the world #2) until the early 1990s. He fought Kasparov in three more World Championship matches in 1986 (held in London and Leningrad), 1987 (held in Seville), and 1990 (held in New York City and Lyon). All three matches were extremely close: the scores were 11.5 to 12.5 (+4 -5 = 15), 12 to 12 (+4 -4 =16), and 11.5 to 12.5 (+3 -4 =17). In all three matches Karpov had winning chances up to the very last games. In particular, the 1987 Seville match featured an astonishing blunder by Kasparov in the 23rd game, and should have led to Karpov's reclaiming the title. Instead, in the final game, needing only a draw to win the title, Karpov cracked under pressure from the clock at the end of the first session of play, allowing Kasparov to adjourn the game a pawn up. After a further mistake in the second session, Karpov was slowly ground down and resigned on move 64, ending the match and allowing Kasparov to keep the title.

In their five world championship matches, Karpov has 19 wins, 21 losses, and 104 draws in 144 games

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatoly_Karpov

Further more taking into account that Karpov is still an active player and that Kasparov has left the game 4 1/2 years ago in March 2005,  and that the rematch will be in September 2009.

Also taking into account that :" In 2002 he won a match against Kasparov, defeating him in a rapid time control match 2.5-1.5. In 2006, he tied for first with Kasparov in a blitz tournament, ahead of Korchnoi and Judit Polgar."

Unless Garry Kasparov has prepared himself secretely and I am positive that he has, he still has one slight disadvantage and that is beeing out of the circuit for 4 1/2 years. Without practice and constant pressure the mind does not react always as predicted.

The game is scheduled for:

The news has been around for a while, but today is officially confirmed by Chessdom.com. Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov will play a 12 games match from 21 to 24 September, 2009, in Valencia, Spain. It will consist of 4 rapid (or semi rapid) and 8 blitz games and will take place exactly 25 years after the mythical encounter between the two players.

The match between Kasparov and Karpov is in honor of the Queen as a chess piece, which emerged from the region of Valencia in the XV century, thus putting the beginning of the modern chess rules.

If Karpov plays as well as he always did in the past in blitz, I believe that we might see him win the outcome, his last chance I might add.

My prediction is that Karpov will win the matches as follows:

                                    Karpov                               Kasparov

                        Wins     Losses   Draws           Wins     Losses     Draws

Rapid match        2            1          1                  1           2           1

Blitz                   3            2          3                  2           3           3

Total 12 games    5            3          4                  3           5           4

Scoring               5+          0+         2 = 7             3+         0+          2  = 5 

Is it legal to have a lottery on this outcome. Bets would be limited to $2 USD and the winner that predicts the exact total score takes it all!

This is my prediction.

Thanks Paul. That was a well thought out response. I hope you are right, as I am a Karpov fan.

Kaspy can get into decent shape is he wishes to. If he tries to, he'll win solidly.

 What are your stats?

What is your basis for such a strong position.

Can you expand?

Or is your conclusion based on Kasparov's antecedents overall and not playing against Karpov.

Let's hear your argumentation not a simplistic comment without any bone to it or background or any foundation or any supporting facts.

It is easy to make a statement without any background but at least a person should if not researched say at the least this is why I think that K will win.

So what is your whatever idea why K will win?

His years of domination? His high rating over the years? His world title championship?

Or what else, in my book any such affirmation has and must be supported by some facts. Otherwise your opinion is invalid and at best worth a research which you have not obviously done. 

Karpov loses a lot of games these days, did you notice? How he played 7 or 10 or 25 years ago doesn't mean all that much for games played today. He definitely seems to be in a serious decline.

I assume that Kasparov's relative youth and the few years since he was a 2800+ player will serve him well *if* he tries to get back into shape.

So, I don't find your arguments all that compelling. If Karpov wins you can tout your powers of prescience here as superior to mine if it's important to you.

I'd like to see Kasparov win it, but I know it will be awfully close

I'd bet my money on Kasparov, he stopped when he was still on top, Karpov has been in decline for a while it seems. Maybe he'll be able to tap an exta source of power for this match, maybe he won't. If he will I predict a draw, if he won't I predict a win for Kasparov.

I think it is unwise to make any predictions. Both are quite older, their form is unstable. Both may win decisively, if the opponent will be in bad shape.

Well, aside from that, Kasparov has greater potential to make comeback to world elite, because he is younger. But i doubt he will.

All-time, Kasparov is the much, much better player.  However, he hasn't played for so long...

I'd have to give a slight edge to Karpov here.  He's sharper right now, since Kasparov has been away from the game.

As years go by, the active player, in this instance Karpov, not only plays more games but acquires more reflex moves that are correct without analysis which is an advantage in rapid matches.

Furthermore Karpov likely spent more time preparing for the Sept 2009 match as his life is still chess, while Kasparov is heading a company and engaged in Russian affairs may I say, and has less total time available to study chess.

Nevertheless, should Kasparov win the match it will be a deception for me, on the other hand it will confirm Kasparov's chess supremacy without a shadow of a doubt.

Take your pick!