Garry Kasparov: biography, Deep Blue and the legacy of the greatest champion

Garry Kasparov is considered by many to be the greatest chess player of all time. World champion for 15 years, holder of the highest Elo rating in history (2851), and protagonist of the most widely publicised match in history against the computer Deep Blue, Kasparov transcended chess to become an icon of human intelligence.

The early years of a prodigy

Garry Kasparov was born Garry Weinstein in Baku, Soviet Azerbaijan. His father, Kim Weinstein, was of Jewish origin, and his mother, Klara Kasparian, was of Armenian origin. It was his father who taught him chess at the age of 6 by solving a newspaper puzzle. Young Garry’s talent was immediately obvious.

At 13, he won the USSR junior championship. At 16, he took part in his first Grandmaster tournament and finished first. At 17, he earned the title of International Grandmaster — the youngest of his era. The chess world understood that a phenomenon was emerging.

The youngest world champion

In 1984, Kasparov faced the reigning champion Anatoly Karpov in a marathon match that lasted 5 months and 48 games — the longest in history. The match was halted without a winner by FIDE, under controversial circumstances. Kasparov was ahead on the scoreboard, and many believe he was on the verge of winning.

The rematch took place in 1985 in Moscow. This time, Kasparov won the title aged 22, becoming the youngest world chess champion in history — a record that stood until Magnus Carlsen beat it in 2013 (at 22 years and 357 days, compared with 22 years and 210 days for Kasparov).

The Kasparov style

Kasparov’s style of play was characterised by remarkable energy and aggression, combined with unprecedented theoretical preparation. Where his rival Karpov excelled at patient positional play, Kasparov preferred dynamic, complex and tactically explosive positions.

Kasparov vs Karpov: the greatest rivalry

The rivalry between Kasparov and Karpov is the most famous in the history of chess. Between 1984 and 1990, the two players met in 5 world championship matches totalling 144 games. Kasparov won 3 matches, Karpov 1, and 1 was halted.

This rivalry went far beyond the chessboard: Karpov, backed by the Soviet system, represented the establishment; Kasparov, young and rebellious, embodied the new generation. Their clash also symbolised the collision between two diametrically opposed styles of play — Karpov’s patience against Kasparov’s fire.

Deep Blue: man against the machine

In 1996, Kasparov faced Deep Blue, IBM’s supercomputer, in a 6-game match in Philadelphia. Kasparov won the match 4-2, proving the superiority of human intellect. The world breathed a sigh of relief.

But in 1997, IBM returned with an improved version. The match was played in New York before cameras from around the world. Deep Blue won the 6th and final game — and the match — by 3.5 to 2.5. It was the first victory of a computer over a world champion in a match. The event made front-page news everywhere and marked a turning point in the history of chess and of artificial intelligence. To relive this historic duel in detail, move by move, read our full account of the Kasparov vs Deep Blue duel.

Kasparov accused IBM of cheating by having humans intervene in the machine’s decisions — an accusation never proven. IBM refused a rematch and dismantled Deep Blue. The mystery remains, but the event changed forever the relationship between man and machine in chess.

Exceptional record

Life after chess: author and thinker

Since retiring in 2005, Kasparov has devoted himself to writing, public speaking and political activism. His book My Great Predecessors (5 volumes) is considered one of the greatest works of chess literature ever written. In it, he analyses in depth the games of the world champions who preceded him, from Steinitz to Karpov.

More recently, his book Deep Thinking (2017) explores the relationship between human and artificial intelligence, drawing lessons from his experience with Deep Blue. In it, Kasparov argues that the future lies in human-machine collaboration rather than competition.

Kasparov and chess today

Kasparov’s legacy continues to influence modern chess. His dynamic attacking style, rigorous preparation and pioneering use of computers defined contemporary chess. Magnus Carlsen himself acknowledges Kasparov’s influence on his own game.

For enthusiasts who would like to discover the Kasparov style, his games are analysed in our chess books and our video courses. And to play like a champion — on a chess board worthy of the name — discover our Staunton chess sets in fine wood, the same format Kasparov used throughout his career.