BBC初級口語:兩位超級象棋大師25年後再戰

Background: 有史以來最大象棋對抗賽這周即將重新上演。加里·基莫維奇·卡斯帕羅夫將在西班牙巴倫西亞市對抗阿納托裏·卡爾波夫。25年前是這兩位俄羅斯象棋大師首次對戰爭奪世界大師頭銜，那場史詩般的比賽歷時5個月之久。

【文本】

The hair is greyer, the waistlines larger than when they first faced off in September 1984.

But like two heavyweight boxers coming out of retirement, the mere prospect of Kasparov versus Karpov has chess fans enthralled.

Exactly a quarter of a century ago the 21-year-old Gary Kasparov fought the reigning world champion, Anatoli Karpov, to a standstill in an epic series which, after five months and 48 games, was called off - without a clear winner.

The organisers said the contest had put the health of both players at risk. But in a rematch the following year, the young pretender triumphed, heralding a new era in world chess.

Now aged 46, Gary Kasparov has prepared for this rematch by training with one of today's teenage prodigies, while the 58-year-old Mr Karpov has ‘sparred’ with a computer and grandmasters, from a base on the Spanish coast.

The two giants of Soviet-era chess will turn back the clock in a series of 12 games played, this time, under strict time limits. The host city, Valencia, claims to be the birthplace of the modern game.

【口語突破】

waistlines
腰圍

faced off
對峙

retirement
退休

enthralled
迷惑

reigning
在位的

standstill
停頓

called off
取消

young pretender
年輕的挑戰者

triumphed
取得勝利

heralding a new era
宣告一個新時代到來

teenage prodigies
少年神童

turn back the clock
讓時光倒轉、回覆過去的情況

strict time limits
嚴格的時間限制

Soviet-era
蘇聯時代