Soviet chess Grandmaster Anatoli Karpov lost two games and drew two while playing twenty opponents simultaneously in his last public appearance in Moscow before he plays champions Bobby Fischer of the U.S.A. for the world title.

The Soviet newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda selected his opponents in a nationwide competition among its readers. Over 100,000 players entered for the preliminary rounds; the final was held in Moscow on 8 March.

Karpov is scheduled to meet Fischer in Manila on 1 June, although the match is the centre of bitter controversy ... with Soviet allegations that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) is favouring the American. The Russians would prefer to play in Milan.

Taking part in Karpov's marathon 'chess-in' was a lone lady-player, 28-year-old Lyudmilla Lebedeva. She forced the Grandmaster to a draw.

Karpov is now expected to retire into seclusion with his trainers, Yafim Geller and Semyon Furman, to prepare for the title match.