Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov, born as Garik Weinstein on April 13, 1963, in Baku, Azerbaijan, is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. His contributions to the game have left an indelible mark on both the sport and its theory.
Early Life and Career
- Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, was where Kasparov's interest in chess was ignited at the age of six when he learned the game from his mother, Klara Kasparova, who later became his manager.
- In 1976, he adopted the Russian version of his mother's surname, Kasparov, as an homage to her.
- By the age of 12, Kasparov was already a candidate master, and at 17, he became the youngest ever world junior champion, a title he secured in 1980.
World Championship
- Kasparov challenged the then-world champion Anatoly Karpov in 1984 for the World Chess Championship. After an unprecedented series of 48 games, the match was controversially halted by the Soviet chess federation due to health concerns for Karpov. It resumed in 1985, where Kasparov won, becoming the youngest-ever world champion at 22 years old.
- He defended his title successfully in matches against Karpov in 1986, 1987, and 1990.
- In 1993, Kasparov and Nigel Short split from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to form the Professional Chess Association, leading to a split in the world championship title.
Retirement and Activism
- Kasparov retired from competitive chess in 2005 to focus on political activism and writing. He became an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's regime and founded the United Civil Front in Russia.
- He has written several books on chess strategy and politics, including "How Life Imitates Chess" and "Winter is Coming."
Notable Achievements
- He was the world number one player for 255 months, from 1984 until his retirement in 2005.
- Kasparov was involved in several high-profile matches against IBM's Deep Blue, a computer chess program, with the most famous encounter in 1997 where Deep Blue won, marking a historic moment in the history of computer chess.
- He has received numerous awards, including the Chess Oscar 11 times.
Legacy
- Kasparov's aggressive style and contributions to opening theory have influenced many players. His games are often studied for their depth and complexity.
- He established the Kasparov Chess Foundation to promote chess as an educational tool.
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