The story of the 1978 World Chess Championship between the Soviet Communist Party's protege, Anatoly Karpov and the traitor and Soviet defector, Viktor Korchnoi. One of those instances in life where truth is stranger than fiction.

Chess player Sergei Khlobnikov never set winning as his goal in the game. Emotional and averse to pragmatism, he rarely won tournaments. But eventually, his time came.

The film tells about the social activities of the world chess champion Anatoliy Karpov, his scientific work and hobbies, about the preparation for the 1981 World Cup. A dream of any chess spectator and greetings from 1980 to modern attempts to introduce elements of the show into the organization of super tournaments.