People: Sep. 16, 1985

Despite its subtle elegance, world-championship chess ranks among the most soporific of all spectator sports. Take the inconclusive contest between reigning World Champion Anatoly Karpov, 34, and fellow Soviet Grand Master Gary Kasparov, 22, that ended abruptly last February. Victory was to have gone to the first player to win six games. But 48 grueling confrontations, held over five long months, produced just five wins for Karpov, three for Kasparov and an astonishing 40 draws. World Chess Federation President Florencio Campomanes finally halted the match, explaining, some thought lamely, that the players were exhausted. But no one nodded off last week as Karpov and Kasparov met for a rematch in Moscow's Tchaikovsky Hall. Challenger Kasparov won the first game in 41 moves, and the second ended in a draw. Champion Karpov will have to strike back fast--relatively speaking, of course. This time, if neither man can cop six victories, laurels will go to the leader after a mere 24 games.