Jesús Seoane Sepúlveda

Anatoli Karpov, the great world chess champion, visited Cádiz, the oldest city of Occident located in the South of Spain (Andalucía), more than 40 years ago to play a multiple game. It was an unusual fact, never before -nor ever after, to date- a current world chess champion had visited the oldest city in the West to display his teaching. The event aroused unusual expectation.

It has been the only time in the history of the oldest city in the West, called “La Tacita de Plata”, in which a current world chess champion has attended an organized event that aroused unusual expectations.

In Karpov... in Cádiz! Prof. Jesús Miguel Seoane recounts in a way that is both agile and meticulous and with unrestrained enthusiasm what happened on the magical evening of February 4, 1981, when at the main office of the Caja de Ahorros de Ronda on Andalusia Avenue in Cádiz, the World Champion, Anatoli Karpov, faced 23 players simultaneously in unforgettable chess games.

Such is the detail, information, warmth, and commitment that Prof. Jesús M. Seoane puts into the account of everything that happened that night in the Tacita de Plata, that it would be superfluous to comment or add any relevant aspect here. What must be emphasized is the fact that, in that memorable the famous Simultaneous, anecdotes aside, the champion won 18 times and gave up 5 draws, something exceptional and that satisfied both Anatoli Karpov and the excellent players who faced the at that time world champion; that is the objective fact that the chronicles collected; This book reflects, in addition to all that, the fascination with which the event was lived among those who were lucky enough to participate or attend it, singularly, that of the child that the author of this book was at that time who, although he did not attend to the event, this would mark a turning point shortly after in his life.

Dedicated to Doug Hamilton. A fearsome attacking player who inspired new generations of Australian players, such as the creative GM Ian Rogers. In fact, it is a Tribute to the whole of Australian chess. Some GMs and IMs and few of the best players in Australia collaborate in it. The layout designer is Juan Carlos Sanz, who does an impressive job.

The author, Jesús Seoane, is a Spanish physicist with a remarkable international career and not only a good chess player but also a passionate chess player and book collector.