50 year old Russian Chess legend and Grand master Garry Kasparov arrived at Entebbe International Airport Monday afternoon aboard a private jet and was received by Uganda Chess Federation President Vianney Luggya, director (technical) Stephen Kisuze and other officials.
Kasparov later checked in at Serena Hotel with his wife Daria and 7 other aides he travelled with from Kenya. currently a political activist, Kasparov is on a five nation tour to Africa to promote the game of chess under his own Garry Kasparov Chess Foundation.
“We hope to build a momentum for the game of chess in Uganda for both professional side and leisure side. With the right infrastructure in place, Uganda would have numerous talents like Phiona Mutesi,” chess legend Kasparov told Kawowo Sports.” I am touring this region now and i hope we discover the prospects for chess in this country.”
Kasparov’s visit to Uganda was inspired by young chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi in the United States of America when the two played an exhibition game that has become an inspiration to Ugandans.
Kasparov and his team now head to Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia on a similar purpose and will wind up his tour in Port Elizabeth South Africa where he will be one of the dignitaries at the Commonwealth Chess Championship.
Kasparov was ranked as number one chess player in the world for a record 20 years, famously defeated IBM’s Deep Blue Super Computer in a series of chess matches in 1996, defeated champion Anatoly Karpov in 1985 and then by then becoming the youngest ever undisputed World Chess Champion. He retired in 2005 as the reigning world number one since 1986.
