The 1986 World Chess Championship was played between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov in London and Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) from July 28 to October 8, 1986. Games 1-12 were played at the Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, London, and games 13–24 at the Hotel Leningrad. Kasparov won. Anatoly Karpov was already assured of this rematch during his previous year's match, which was won by Garry Kasparov.
The match was played as the best of 24 games. If it ended 12-12, Kasparov would retain his title.
Kasparov led by 3 points after 16 games but Karpov fought back with three straight wins to level the score with five games to go. After two tense draws, Kasparov won the 22nd game and drew the 23rd to clinch the retention of the World Championship. The 24th game was played to determine the distribution of the prize fund. It was drawn so Kasparov received the winner's share of the purse. Had Karpov won, the match would have ended in a tie and the purse would have been equally divided.