World Championship Medals
These medals symbolize the pinnacle of achievement in chess—winning the World Championship. They carry the legacy of some of the most important World Chess Championship matches in history.
Medal of the 1978 World Championship Match
The 1978 World Chess Championship between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, held in Baguio City, Philippines, was one of the most dramatic and politically charged matches in chess history. Karpov, the reigning world champion, faced Korchnoi, a Soviet defector and fierce critic of the Soviet regime. The match was filled with tension and controversy. Karpov initially took a lead by 4-1, but Korchnoi fought back, leveling the match at 5-5 after 31 games. The match was decided by the first player to win six games, and Karpov clinched the title by winning the very next game, finishing with a score of 6-5.
Medal of the 1981 World Championship Match
Anatoly Karpov defeated Viktor Korchnoi in the World Championship match in Merano, Italy. Held in 1981, this was the second match between the two opponents, the first being the famous 1978 match in Baguio, Philippines, which Karpov also won.
Medal of the 1984 World Championship Match
The infamous unlimited 1984 World Chess Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov took place in Moscow, USSR. This controversial match was supposed to continue until one player won 6 games, with no limit on the number of draws. After 48 games and five months of intense competition, the match was abandoned in February 1985 with Karpov leading 5-3 (with 40 draws). The title was not awarded, and a rematch was scheduled for later that year. The match took place in the House of Unions, a famous concert hall of the time, which is engraved on the reverse side of the medal.
Gold medal of the 2006 World Championship Match
In April 2006, FIDE announced a reunification match between Kramnik and Topalov, the FIDE World Chess Championship 2006. The competition took place in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia. Vladimir Kramnik beat Veselin Topalov on a tiebreaker and became the undisputed World Champion.
Medal of the 2012 World Championship Match
The 2012 World Chess Championship match took place at the iconic Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. Defending champion Viswanathan Anand of India faced challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel. Anand retained his title by winning 2.5-1.5 in a tie-break after the classical games ended in a 6-6 tie.
Gold medal of the 2021 FIDE World Championship Match
The 2021 World Chess Championship Match in Dubai saw Magnus Carlsen defend his title for the fourth time, defeating challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi 7½–3½.
Medal of the 2023 FIDE World Championship Match
The 2023 World Chess Championship Match in Astana, Kazakhstan, featured two challengers, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, in a thrilling 14-game battle. After a 7-7 tie, the championship title was decided in a tiebreak, with Ding Liren emerging victorious and becoming the first absolute chess champion from China.
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Medals of the 2024 FIDE World Championship Match
The 2024 World Chess Championship Match in Singapore crowned Gukesh Dommaraju as the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. He triumphed over Ding Liren in a thrilling back-and-forth match, securing victory with a score of 7.5-6.5. At the closing ceremony, participants received their medals: gold for the new champion and silver for the runner-up.
