Garry Kasparov

(1963 م)

Garry Kimovich Kasparov (Russian: Га́рри Ки́мович Каспа́ров, Russian pronunciation: [ˈɡarʲɪ ˈkʲiməvʲɪtɕ kɐˈsparəf]; born Garik Kimovich Weinstein, ۱۳ April ۱۹۶۳) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) chess Grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer, and political activist, considered by many to be the greatest chess player of all time. From ۱۹۸۶ until his retirement in ۲۰۰۵, Kasparov was ranked world No. ۱ for ۲۲۵ out of ۲۲۸ months. His peak rating of ۲۸۵۱, achieved in ۱۹۹۹, was the highest recorded until being passed by Magnus Carlsen in ۲۰۱۳. Kasparov also holds records for consecutive professional tournament victories (۱۵) and Chess Oscars (۱۱). Kasparov became the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion in ۱۹۸۵ at age ۲۲ by defeating then-champion Anatoly Karpov. He held the official FIDE world title until ۱۹۹۳, when a dispute with FIDE led him to set up a rival organization, the Professional Chess Association. In ۱۹۹۷ he became the first world champion to lose a match to a computer under standard time controls, when he lost to the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in a highly publicized match. He continued to hold the "Classical" World Chess Championship until his defeat by Vladimir Kramnik in ۲۰۰۰. Kasparov announced his retirement from professional chess on ۱۰ March ۲۰۰۵, after which he devoted his time to politics and writing. He formed the United Civil Front movement, and joined as a member of The Other Russia, a coalition opposing the administration and policies of Vladimir Putin. In ۲۰۰۸, he announced an intention to run as a candidate in the ۲۰۰۸ Russian presidential race, but failure to find a sufficiently large rental space to assemble the number of supporters that is legally required to endorse such a candidacy led him to withdraw. Kasparov blamed "official obstruction" for the lack of available space. Although he is widely regarded in the West as a symbol of opposition to Putin, support for him as a candidate was very low. The political climate in Russia reportedly makes it difficult for opposition candidates to organize. He is currently on the board of directors for the Human Rights Foundation and chairs its International Council.