Kasparov to visit Kenya to promote chess

Russian grandmaster and former World champion Garry Kasparov will visit Kenya on Saturday to promote chess among the youth.

Kenya Chess Association Chairman Githinji Hinga said the 50-year-old Kasparov will attend the National Youth Chess Championship here, reports Xinhua.

"The former orld No.1 will be our guest on Saturday during which he will inspire the youth to play chess, which has also been proved to improve academic performance and decision-making," Hinga said Tuesday.

He said Kasparov will be in Kenya en-route to South Africa where he is heading to open an African branch of his Garry Kasparov Foundation in Johannesburg that will be used as a springboard to spread the game around the continent.

"The chess guru will meet top sports and education officials in Kenya during his visit, with the aim of establishing a branch in the country at a later date as well as to create relationships with Kenyans."

Kasparov has declared his intentions to vie for the presidency of chess' world governing body, FIDE, of which 160 countries are members.

Considered by many to be the greatest chess player of all time, Kasparov became the youngest undisputed World champion in 1985 at the age of 22 by defeating then champion Anatoly Karpov.

His ratings achievements include being continuously ranked World No.1 from 1986 until his retirement in 2005, during which he achieved a peak rating of 2851, the highest score to date.