Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, political activist, and writer. He became the youngest-ever world chess champion in 1985.

Chess Player

April 13, 1963

61

Garry Kasparov, a Russian chess grandmaster, writer, and political activist, is renowned for his accomplishments in the chess world and beyond. He first gained recognition by winning the Soviet Junior Championship in 1976 and 1977, followed by the World Junior Championship in 1980. Kasparov’s highest FIDE chess rating of 2851, achieved in 1999, was a record at the time. His intense rivalry with Anatoly Karpov and his insightful books, such as “How Life Imitates Chess” and “My Great Predecessors,” have significantly contributed to the game.

In 1997, Kasparov made headlines when he competed against IBM’s Deep Blue computer in a highly publicized match, which he ultimately lost. This event marked a crucial milestone in computer chess development and further cemented Kasparov’s status as one of history’s greatest chess players.

Kasparov’s influence also reaches beyond chess. In 2003, he collaborated with the rock band “Deep Purple” on a musical project, resulting in the song “Child in Time.” Inspired by a famous game he played against Veselin Topalov in 1999, the song was featured on his album “Mechanical Turk.”

Although he retired from regular competitive chess in 2005, Kasparov remains an influential figure in the chess community and continues to advocate for human rights and political causes. His legacy as a chess player and his contributions to the game have secured his position as one of the most influential figures in chess history. Notably, he became the youngest-ever world chess champion in 1985 after defeating Anatoly Karpov.