Chess legend Kasparov visits Uganda

Jul 08, 2013

KASPAROV was ranked as number one chess player in the world for a record 20 years. He famously defeated IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer in a series of chess matches

By James Bakama and David Namunyala

A game between President Yoweri Museveni and Grand Master Garry Kasparov could highlight the chess legend’s visit to Uganda today.

Museveni is one of the high ranking officials that Kasparov is likely to meet on his 13-hour visit to Uganda.

“Target persons include His Excellency the President. He will also hold several meetings with top Education and Sports Ministry officials and the chess fraternity,” explained Uganda Chess Federation secretary Christopher Turyahabwe.

Kasparov was ranked as number one chess player in the world for a record 20 years. He famously defeated IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer in a series of chess matches in 1996.

A program issued by Turyahabwe, says Kasparov will jet in between 2:30 and 3:15pm. He will thereafter meet top government officials before having a press conference at Serena Hotel.

He will also have several meetings with students and UCF officials. He will wind up the day with a dinner at Serena. Kasparov became the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of 22 after 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.

He continued to hold the "Classical" World Chess Championship until his defeat by Vladimir Kramnik in 2000.

Kasparov's achievements include being rated world No. 1 according to Elo rating almost continuously from 1986 until his retirement in 2005. He achieved a peak rating of 2851,[4] which was the highest recorded until 2013. 

He was ranked world’s top player for 255 months, nearly three times as long as his closest rival, Anatoly Karpov.

Kasparov also holds records for consecutive tournament victories and Chess Oscars.

Earlier this year Kasparov met Uganda’s youngest candidate master WCM Phiona Mutesi in the US and the two played an exhibition game that has become an inspiration to Ugandans.

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