Karpov Sweeps Ahead 12-11

SEVILLE, Spain — Anatoly Karpov, the challenger, scored a dramatic victory today in the next-to-last game of the World Chess Championship, putting him in position to take the title from champion Gary Kasparov with a draw in the final contest.

Karpov won the 23rd game, which had been adjourned Wednesday, in 57 moves. Karpov requires only a draw in Friday’s final game to regain the title he held for 10 years, but lost to Kasparov in November, 1985. Kasparov needs to win the 24th game to finish the match in a 12-12 tie, in which case he would retain his title for three years.