"Any event tied to Paul Keres is for me always a priority,“ said Karpov. "I was here for his 90th birthday as well, and we were good acquaintances in the old days [...] Although there was a big age difference between us – 35 years – I always had an interesting time with Paul Keres.“

January 7 would have been the 95th birthday of the man who is famously called the best chess player never to have become world champion.  

In the 17-board simul, Karpov (world champion 1975-85; 1993-99) took on a host of Estonian actors, writers, musicians and other well-known amateur players. Jüri Järvet Jr., an actor and former theater director, accepted a surprisingly early draw offer from Karpov after beginning with the Ruy Lopez.

"A draw because he played well, and as it later became clear, he is a big chess lover. I later found out that we have met before,“ said Karpov.

"I think he saw that I have lifted chess pieces before and he took it easy,“ said Järvet, who said he owed Karpov a thank-you for winning a tournament in Tallinn five years earlier, in which Karpov was predicted to have had a one in 50 chance. "I should actually go thank him now, he made me into a rich man,“ said a good-humored Järvet. 

Karpov later met with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in the Kadriorg palace.