Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born Garik Kimovich Weinstein on April 13, 1963) is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, political activist, and writer. Widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time, Kasparov became the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 at age 22.

He held the title for a record 255 months, defending it successfully against Anatoly Karpov five times. His peak rating of 2851, achieved in 1999, was the highest ever recorded until Magnus Carlsen surpassed it. Kasparov is known for his aggressive, dynamic playing style, profound opening preparation, and relentless ambition.

After retiring from professional chess in 2005, he transitioned into politics and writing, becoming a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin’s government. He also famously played a series of matches against IBM’s Deep Blue computer, losing in 1997, a landmark event in AI history.