Garry Kasparov

Biography

Garry Kimovich Kasparov, originally named Garik Kimovich Weinstein, was born on April 13, 1963, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR. He is a Russian chess grandmaster, political activist, and writer who ruled the chess scene for over 20 years. He became the youngest World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of 22, defeating Anatoly Karpov in a tough match that grabbed worldwide attention. Kasparov was the world champion from 1985 to 2000 and defended his title against Karpov three more times in 1986, 1987, and 1990, creating one of chess's greatest rivalries.

Kasparov showed remarkable control in competitive chess throughout his career. He was the world's top-ranked player for a record 255 months from 1984 until he stopped playing in regular tournaments in 2005. His highest FIDE rating of 2851, achieved in 1999, stayed the top record until Magnus Carlsen broke it in 2013. Kasparov has many records, including 15 consecutive professional tournament victories and 11 Chess Oscar awards for being the best player of the year. His bold playing style and thorough opening preparation changed modern chess strategies and inspired a new generation of players.

Kasparov's relationship with FIDE, chess's ruling body, soured in 1993 over title match terms, prompting him to form the Professional Chess Association (PCA). This split led to two world champions until 2006, with Kasparov holding the 'Classical' title until he lost to Vladimir Kramnik in 2000. A pivotal moment in his career was in 1997 when he became the first world champion to lose a match to a computer, IBM's Deep Blue, in a widely watched event that represented humanity's changing interaction with artificial intelligence.

After retiring from competitive chess, Kasparov turned to writing and political activism. He wrote several well-received books on chess history and strategy, including the series 'My Great Predecessors' and 'Winter Is Coming,' which combines his chess knowledge with political insights. As a strong critic of Vladimir Putin's government, Kasparov became a notable figure in Russia's opposition, founding the United Civil Front and joining The Other Russia coalition. His political actions have subjected him to government pressure, leading to arrests and forcing him to spend a lot of time abroad. He briefly thought about running for the Russian presidency in 2008 and later aimed for the FIDE presidency in 2013-2014, staying active in both political and chess circles.