Garry Kasparov - Career Summary & Match Record
A concise overview of Kasparov's major achievements, world championship matches, tournament record, and head-to-head highlights.
Introduction
Garry Kasparov (born April 13, 1963, in Baku) rose to the top of world chess in the 1980s and became one of the most dominant players in history.
Key fact: Kasparov became the thirteenth World Chess Champion in 1985 and, at the time, the youngest to hold the title (age 22).
World Championship matches - summary
- 1984-1985: Classic rivalry with Anatoly Karpov; Kasparov won the 1985 rematch to claim the title (became World Champion).
- 1986, 1987, 1990: Defended his title successfully against Karpov in subsequent matches.
- 1993: Left FIDE championship cycle (PCA vs FIDE split) and remained the Classical/world champion under PCA.
- 1995 (Kasparov vs Anand): Kasparov defended his Classical/PCA title against Viswanathan Anand in New York
- Kasparov won the match after 18 games (final score 10.5-7;5
Kasparov's score included 4 wins, 1 loss, 13 draws in the match).
- 2000: Lost the Classical World Championship title to Vladimir Kramnik (London 2000).
Tournament record & highlights
- Dominated elite events for many years - consistent winner at top tournaments such as Linares, Wijk aan Zee, Dortmund and strong showings across 1980s-1990s.
- Peak FIDE rating: 2851 (July 1999), one of the highest ratings of the pre-Carlsen era.
- Ranked world No. 1 for the vast majority of his peak years and widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever players.
Head-to-head & match statistics (selected)
Kasparov-s most famous rivalry was with Anatoly Karpov. Summary (selected):
| Opponent | Notable summary (classical/match) |
|---|
| Anatoly Karpov (rivalry) | In their five World Championship matches Karpov scored 19 wins, Kasparov 21 wins, and 104 draws. In classical games overall Kasparov leads roughly 28-20 with ~119 draws (varies slightly by source depending on which rapid/exhibition games are counted). |
| Viswanathan Anand | Kasparov beat Anand to retain the PCA/Classical title in 1995 (see match note above). |
Retirement & legacy
Kasparov officially retired from professional chess in 2005 after winning Linares. Since retirement he has focused on writing, teaching, politics, and chess promotion
- leaving a profound legacy in opening theory, preparation, and competitive intensity.
Sources & further reading