Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer, and political activist, whom many consider to be the greatest chess player of all time. From 1986 until his retirement in 2005, Kasparov was ranked world No. 1 for 225 out of 228 months. His peak rating of 2851, achieved in 1999, was the highest recorded until being surpassed by Magnus Carlsen in 2013. Kasparov also holds records for consecutive professional tournament victories (15) and Chess Oscars (11).

Kasparov became the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 at age 22 by defeating then-champion Anatoly Karpov. He held the official FIDE world title until 1993, when a dispute with FIDE led him to set up a rival organization, the Professional Chess Association. In 1997 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 2000. In spite of losing the world championship, he continued winning tournaments and maintained a number-one world ranking until his retirement from professional chess.

Kasparov announced his retirement from professional chess on 10 March 2005, after which he devoted his time to politics and writing.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... y_Kasparov View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Activists • Chess players • 1980s • 1990s • Chess • Human Rights • Politics • Russia (Europe) • 2000s • Icons • People