Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born Garri Weinstein)(ˈgarʲɪ ˈkʲiməvʲɪtɕ kɐˈsparəf; Га́рри Ки́мович Каспа́ров) (born April 13 1963, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR; now Azerbaijan) is a Russian chess grandmaster of Armenian and Jewish descent, former World Chess Champion, writer and political activist. He was a candidate for the Russian presidential race of 2008.
Kasparov became the youngest ever World Chess Champion in 1985. He held the official FIDE world title until 1993, when a dispute with FIDE led him to set up a rival organisation, the Professional Chess Association. He continued to hold the "Classical" World Chess Championship until his defeat by Vladimir Kramnik in 2000. He is also widely known for being the first world chess champion to lose a match to a computer, when he lost to Deep Blue in 1997.
Kasparov's ratings achievements include being rated world #1 according to Elo rating almost continuously from 1986 until his retirement in 2005 and holding the all-time highest rating of 2851. He also holds records for consecutive tournament victories and Chess Oscars.
Kasparov announced his retirement from professional chess on March 10 2005, to devote 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 of Vladimir Putin.
On September 30, 2007, Kasparov entered the Russian Presidential race, receiving 379 of 498 votes at a congress held in Moscow by The Other Russia.
Widely regarded in the West as a symbol of opposition to Putin, Kasparov's support in Russia is low.
