AFRICA.- Chess Grandmaster Coming to Town

ZIMBABWE - Julio 2013

FORMER World Chess champion, Garry Kasparov, is set to arrive in Zimbabwe tomorrow to meet stakeholders and discusss how he could help develop the sport in the country.

Kasparov, a Russian considered by some as the greatest chess player of all time, is expected to sink about US$150 000 in local chess development.

CDF Trust director, Caleb Dengu, whose firm is organising the visit, said Kasparov wants to assist the development of chess in Zimbabwe and other countries in Africa.

"He is coming here on Thursday before he leaves for South Africa to meet chess stakeholders. Zimbabwe is one of the countries on his itinery," said Dengu.

Kasparov is known in Russia, not only as a sports guru, but also as a political activist in that country.

The 50-year-old Kasparov became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 at the age of 22 by defeating the then champion Anatoly Karpov.

He held the official world title until 1993, when a dispute with the International Chess Federation, FIDE, led him to set up a rival organisation, the Profession Chess Association.

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

Kasparov announced his retirement from professional chess on 10 March 2005, so that he could devote his time to politics and writing.

Fuente: allafrica