karpov. the chess lovers, this is as great as the game gets. locking horns 25 years since their first historic encounter. today in spain, they resumed their rivalry with the first of 12 quick fire games. when they first met, though, it was more at it. the year was 1984, and for nearly half of, karpov's impregnable play against kasparov's material brilliance. the match was called off after five months after fears the players were exhausted. by the time they met again the following year, kasparov was ready to take the crown, a title he held until 2000. he then swapped the thrust of the chess board for that of russian politics, briefly being arrested and then imprisoned for political dissent. >> this regime is criminal. >> in jail, his old opponent visited him. their rivalry is intense, but the respect mutual. today's contest, a reminder why for so many of the 10 million people who will be watching, they remain the best players ever to have lifted upon -- lifted a pawn. >> this is "bbc world news." headlines for you this hour -- world leaders atte

this time, the meeting will be strictly limited to 12 games. >> karpov vsd. kasparov.e but mercurial brilliance. after five months and with the score 5-3, the match was called off after fierce the players -- fears the players were exhausted. by the time they met again the following year, kasparov was ready to take the crown, a title he held since 2000. he then left the chess board for that of russian politics, briefly being arrested for political dissent. in jail, his old upon and visited him. the rivalry is intense, but the respect neutral. today's contest a reminder why for so many of the 10 million people who will be watching, they remain the best players ever. >> the latest headlines for you on "bbc world news" -- world leaders attending declined somewhat in new york have been warned time is running out to tackle global warming. palestinian and israeli leaders have agreed to restart middle east peace talks after an appeal from president obama. the head of the commission investigating the widespread allegations of fraud in last month after an election now says the f