In 1978, young ambitious Soviet chess champion Anatoly Karpov must defend his title against a former mentor and defector to the West Viktor Korchnoi. Their face-off becomes the most dramatic... Read allIn 1978, young ambitious Soviet chess champion Anatoly Karpov must defend his title against a former mentor and defector to the West Viktor Korchnoi. Their face-off becomes the most dramatic championship match in chess history.In 1978, young ambitious Soviet chess champion Anatoly Karpov must defend his title against a former mentor and defector to the West Viktor Korchnoi. Their face-off becomes the most dramatic championship match in chess history.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
- Awards
- 5 wins & 1 nomination total
Konstantin Khabensky
- Viktor Korchnoy
- (as Konstantin Khabenskiy)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Good sport biopic, much better than "moving up" and others SB for last years. Excellent game of Khabensky and very neat to real events. So, don't miss.
This is one of the few great chess game films that also gives a good outlook on what the soviet society was doing to people's behaviour. This movie is slow, smart and very, very intelligent. I really enjoyed it, but you have to be very patient and attentive to appreciate it.
One thing I found inappropriate was the disturbances created by Karpov opponent to affect Karpov's sleep which did not make much sense. Other than that, I think the plot was interesting enough to keep me interested for the entire 2 hours and 24 minutes.
Whoever likes chess and psychology of complex characters will be interested by this movie. People who like action movies, just skip this one, it is too slow for action seekers.
One thing I found inappropriate was the disturbances created by Karpov opponent to affect Karpov's sleep which did not make much sense. Other than that, I think the plot was interesting enough to keep me interested for the entire 2 hours and 24 minutes.
Whoever likes chess and psychology of complex characters will be interested by this movie. People who like action movies, just skip this one, it is too slow for action seekers.
This movie deserves 10.
Konstantin khabensky deserves an oscar for great acting.
I loved the story, vfx, atomsphere, acting, score, directing, everything. Its glamorous, better than most of the hollywood movies.
P. N. I knew every thing that konstantin involved would be great and also watched because of him. The movie got me from the first moment to the last minute. I also like how they compared the chess table to a battle ground, the rivals watching around. It was mesmorising. Well job done.
For a not russian i hope someone created a website that provides english subtitle to russian movies and tv shows, because most of the shows dont have. If you know any site please let me know.
Konstantin khabensky deserves an oscar for great acting.
I loved the story, vfx, atomsphere, acting, score, directing, everything. Its glamorous, better than most of the hollywood movies.
P. N. I knew every thing that konstantin involved would be great and also watched because of him. The movie got me from the first moment to the last minute. I also like how they compared the chess table to a battle ground, the rivals watching around. It was mesmorising. Well job done.
For a not russian i hope someone created a website that provides english subtitle to russian movies and tv shows, because most of the shows dont have. If you know any site please let me know.
This is a better than average chess film. Why? Because it has a real-life plot which is usually better than fictionalized plots. In this one, we have a former Russian chess Champion, Korchnoi, having defected to the West, is playing Karpov, the new young icon of Russian chess. Karpov is also a former student of Korchnoi, which complicates the plot and makes it more interesting. In this situation. Will the hot new young rising star win? Or will the old, wily veteran, who knows a bit more about the real world win? Will the teacher beat the student, or will the student best the teacher? Watch for yourself.
Chess!
Went to the cinema with big doubts!
Even without that, it was always clear to me that any film relating to the era of the USSR is an anti-Soviet craft with plasticine heroes and a far-fetched plot. Fortunately, this time a completely different case, although, of course, it could not have done without anti-Sovietism. Quote: "If the KGB finds out that we met, you will be sent to the Gulag!".
Firstly, few people in the modern generation probably know, but the GULAG is the Main Directorate of Camps, you can get into the camp, and not into the administration, and secondly, they really laid eyes on Karpov after this meeting, but no more, his meeting with the American did not remain unnoticed. In general, the film does not create an unnecessarily negative image of the USSR and its leaders, which pleases.
The picture tells, as it should - about chess and everything connected with them.
Probably there have never been films in the world cinema that so vividly destroy the myth that chess is not a sport. Nerves heated to the limit, undercover fighting, mental influence and exhausting the enemy by any means, all for the sake of victory, in war all means are good.
Special thanks and respect to K. Khabensky, who, I think, played one of his brightest roles in his entire long career, Yankovsky is also cool!
The only downside to this movie, in my opinion, is the length of time.
And so super!
Went to the cinema with big doubts!
Even without that, it was always clear to me that any film relating to the era of the USSR is an anti-Soviet craft with plasticine heroes and a far-fetched plot. Fortunately, this time a completely different case, although, of course, it could not have done without anti-Sovietism. Quote: "If the KGB finds out that we met, you will be sent to the Gulag!".
Firstly, few people in the modern generation probably know, but the GULAG is the Main Directorate of Camps, you can get into the camp, and not into the administration, and secondly, they really laid eyes on Karpov after this meeting, but no more, his meeting with the American did not remain unnoticed. In general, the film does not create an unnecessarily negative image of the USSR and its leaders, which pleases.
The picture tells, as it should - about chess and everything connected with them.
Probably there have never been films in the world cinema that so vividly destroy the myth that chess is not a sport. Nerves heated to the limit, undercover fighting, mental influence and exhausting the enemy by any means, all for the sake of victory, in war all means are good.
Special thanks and respect to K. Khabensky, who, I think, played one of his brightest roles in his entire long career, Yankovsky is also cool!
The only downside to this movie, in my opinion, is the length of time.
And so super!
Did you know
- ConnectionsReferences Closing Gambit: Korchnoi vs Karpov & The Kremlin (2018)
- How long is The World Champion?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- The World Champion
- Filming locations
- Dom Kino, Moscow, Russia(interiors)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- RUR 700,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $6,241,731
- Runtime2 hours 25 minutes
- Color
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