Quick Facts
Also Known As: Garry Kimovich Kasparov, Garik Kimovich Weinstein
Age: 61 Years, 61 Year Old Males
Family:Spouse/Ex-: Daria Kasparova, Masha Kasparova, Yulia Kasparova
father: Kim Moiseyevich Weinstein
mother: Klara Shagenovna
children: Aida Kasparova, Polina Kasparova, Vadim Kasparov
Born Country: Azerbaijan
Chess Players
Russian Men
Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males
Notable Alumni: Azerbaijan University Of Languages
Ancestry: Armenian Russian, Russian Croatian
City: Baku, Azerbaijan
Founder/Co-Founder: The Other Russia, Professional Chess Association, United Civil Front
More Facts
education: Azerbaijan University Of Languages
awards: Chess Oscar
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1
What is Garry Kasparov known for?
Garry Kasparov is known for being a legendary chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion.
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2
What are some of Garry Kasparov's notable achievements in chess?
Some of Garry Kasparov's notable achievements include becoming the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion at the age of 22, holding the top spot in the FIDE world rankings for a record 255 months, and defeating numerous top players in high-profile matches.
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3
How did Garry Kasparov contribute to the development of chess?
Garry Kasparov contributed to the development of chess by revolutionizing the game with his innovative playing style and strategic ideas. He also played a key role in popularizing chess worldwide through his high-profile matches and advocacy for the sport.
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4
What is Garry Kasparov's approach to training and preparation for chess competitions?
Garry Kasparov is known for his intense training regimen, which includes studying games of past masters, analyzing current trends in chess theory, and honing his tactical and strategic skills through regular practice sessions and simulations.
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5
What impact did Garry Kasparov have on the world of chess after his retirement from competitive play?
After retiring from competitive play, Garry Kasparov continued to be a prominent figure in the world of chess as a writer, commentator, and advocate for the game. He also founded the Kasparov Chess Foundation to promote chess education and development worldwide.
Childhood & Early Life
Garry Kasparov was born as Garik Kimovich Weinstein, in Russia, on 13 April 1963, to Jewish father, Kim Moiseyevich Weinstein, and Armenian mother, Klara Shagenovna Gasparian.
He was introduced to chess as a little boy and started playing the game in earnest when he was six. He lost his father when he was seven.
At the age of 12, he adopted his mother's Armenian surname, Gasparian, and modified it to a more Russified version, Kasparov.
He received his training at Mikhail Botvinnik's chess school under noted coach Vladimir Makogonov who helped him develop his game. He blossomed into a formidable player under his mentor’s guidance and won the Soviet Junior Championship in Tbilisi in 1976, aged 13.
He then went on to train under Alexander Shakarov and won the Soviet Junior Championship in 1977 as well.
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Career
A significant event happened in 1978. He was invited to the Sokolsky Memorial tournament in Minsk where he reached the first place and became a chess master. This incident convinced the young man to become a professional chess player.
As a 15 year old, he qualified for the Soviet Chess Championship in 1978, the youngest ever player at that level and went on to win the 64-player Swiss system tournament at Daugavpils.
More successes followed and he won the World Junior Chess Championship in Dortmund, West Germany, in 1980. By this time he had gained the reputation of being one of the world’s best chess players and became a Grandmaster by the end of the same year.
He touched new career heights in the 1980s. He scored his first win in a superclass-level international tournament at Bugojno, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1982. By early 1983, he was already the No. 2 player in the world, trailing behind only World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov.
He first challenged Karpov in 1984 for the World Chess Championship title. After five months and 48 games, the match between the two was abandoned in controversial circumstances. The men met again in a rematch in 1985 where Kasparov narrowly defeated Karpov in a 24-game series to become the youngest world champion at the age of 22.
Kasparov faced some issues with the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) or World Chess Federation and broke away from the organization. FIDE retaliated and stripped Kasparov of the FIDE World Championship title.
Kasparov collaborated with fellow chess player Nigel Short to form the Professional Chess Association (PCA), which existed between 1993 and 1996 as a rival organization to FIDE. Kasparov, however, later regretted breaking away from FIDE.
Kasparov went on to defeat Short to become the PCA world champion. He successfully defended his title in a 1995 match against Viswanathan Anand. He continued to hold the "Classical" World Chess Championship until his defeat by Vladimir Kramnik in 2000.
He retired from professional chess in 2005. He has been devoting his time to politics and writing since then. He founded the United Civil Front, a social movement in Russia which is part of The Other Russia, an opposition coalition active in Moscow. He has been serving as the chairman for the Human Rights Foundation since 2011 and chairs its International Council.
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As an author, he has penned several books including ‘The Sicilian Scheveningen’ (1991), ‘Garry Kasparov's Chess Challenge’ (1996), ‘Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov’ (three volumes, 2011-14), and ‘Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped’ (2015).
Awards & Achievements
In 1991, Garry Kasparov received the Keeper of the Flame award from the Center for Security Policy for "propagation of democracy and the respect for individual rights throughout the world".
The first volume of his five-volume work ‘Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors’ won the British Chess Federation's Book of the Year award in 2003.
In 2013, he was honored with the Morris B. Abram Human Rights Award, UN Watch's annual human-rights prize. The organization praised him as "not only one of the world’s smartest men" but "also among its bravest."
Personal Life & Legacy
Garry Kasparov’s first marriage was to Masha with whom he has a daughter. This marriage ended in divorce.
He tied the knot for the second time with Yulia. They had a son before divorcing in 2005.
He is currently married to Daria with whom he has two children.
Facts About Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov is known for his love of literature and is a prolific writer himself, having authored many books on chess and politics.
Despite being a formidable chess player, Kasparov also has a playful side and enjoys engaging in friendly banter and humorous exchanges with his fellow players.
Kasparov has a keen interest in technology and was an early advocate for the use of computers in chess, which eventually led to the development of advanced chess programs.
Outside of chess, Kasparov is a passionate advocate for human rights and democracy, using his platform to speak out against authoritarian regimes and promote freedom of speech.
Kasparov is a polyglot, fluent in multiple languages including Russian, English, and German, which has helped him connect with a diverse range of fans and supporters worldwide.
