Kasparov Goes Global

by Dolores
(Chicago Illinois US)

Garry Kasparov

Turning fifty in 2012, Garry Kasporov has already moved beyond his birthplace in Baku Azerbaijan (Russia) into world renown. From a young age he studied chess with the masters of his day. “I will remember the Sokolsky Memorial as long as I live,” he is quoted as writing. It was after this tournament in 1978 that he knew he could be champion of the world.

Kasparov is skilled as a writer and a political activist yet he is best known for emerging as the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985. He was only 22 years old. He held this title until 1993, but dissension in the World Chess Federation threatened this ranking. And this is where his story becomes interesting!

Rather than retiring on his laurels, Kasparov started up the Professional Chess Association. It was there that he continued as champion until 2000. In hindsight Kasparov regrets this move which weakened the global chess presence.*

His list of accomplishments is too long for this article. Not only competing with humans, he took on the computer named Deep Blue in 1997, and X3D Frits in 2003. Retiring from serious competitive chess in 2005 has not slowed him down.

As an author he has written over 25 books, and he wrote about what what he knows best, the world of chess. Some books introduce us to the other chess grandmasters. Some describe his own thinking during his many famous games. There is a four book series giving the detailed history of chess from 1970's to the present. This coming year he will be publishing The Blueprint: Reviving Innovation, Rediscovering Risk, and Rescuing the Free Market so watch out for it.

While Kasparov has excelled in chess, in activism and in writing, he is a model for all people moving into the second half of their lives. The vibrancy of his presence on the world stage, encourages us to invest in our own passions today and tomorrow.

*"My decision to break away from FIDE was a mistake", 10 September 2007.

Decent Man and Champion

by James Kelly
(Colorado USA)

I wrote to Garry and told him that my Middle School Chess team had, having read about him, decided to name our club in his honor. Garry kindly wrote back to give the teenage players some fantastic advice: "Everybody gets out-played sometimes, but never let anyone out-work you. This is why I love chess in schools - it teaches kids that hard work brings great results...victory!" What a nice thing that was for us all, Garry took time out of his busy schedule and wrote to a group of fourteen year olds he had never met, and gave them such wisdom. For my Chess Club, Garry Kasparov is a hero.