Garry Kasparov
Kasparov protests in support of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Moscow, Russia, June 4, 2009. Political picket of Solidarity at the building of Hamovnichesky court during the trial of Khodorkovsky, olegkozyrev/bigstock.com
Birth Name: Garik Kimovich Weinstein
Place of Birth: Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union (now Azerbaijan)
Date of Birth: 13 April, 1963
Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – Armenian
Garry Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and commentator. He was ranked world No. 1 for a record 255 months overall, from 1984 to 2005. His peak rating of 2851, in 1999, was the highest ever for fourteen years, and he also won the most consecutive professional tournaments and Chess Oscars.
Garry is the son of Klara Shagenovna Kasparova and Kim Moiseyevich Weinstein. His father was Ashkenazi Jewish. His mother was Armenian, from a family from Nagorno-Karabakh. He was named after U.S. President Harry Truman [Garry]. In 1990, his family fled anti-Armenian prosecution and pogroms in Azerbaijan.
Garry is married to Daria/Dasha, who is his manager. He has a daughter with his former wife Masha; a son with his former wife Yulia; and two children with Daria. Garry identifies as Christian by religion.
Garry’s paternal grandfather was named Moische Rubinovich Weinstein (the son of Reuven Weinstein). Moische was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and was a composer and conductor.
Garry’s paternal grandmother was named Olga Yulevna Belyavskaya (the daughter of Yuli Belyavsky).
Garry’s maternal grandfather was named Shagen Mosesovich Kasparian. Shagen was born in Hadrut, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan.
Garry’s maternal grandmother was named Susanna Bagdasarovna. Susanna was born in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Source: Genealogy of Garry Kasparov – https://www.geni.com
He resembles l!l Timmy.
Hahaha. He does resemble a best friend of mine I had in high school – he was an Armenian from Moscow. Not that it means anything to a troll, but fun fact.
Tag: “chess”.
Was actually his paternal grandmother Jewish as well?
I presumed so. All we have to go on is the name and Kasparov’s own statements.
Perhaps he’s related to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Beliavsky
@andrew, Kasparov has said:
“I am born in Baku and I am half Armenian-half Jewish but my native tongue is Russian, my culture is Russian, my education is Russian.”
I can understand why you’d think he was only a quarter Jewish though. His paternal grandmother has a very Slavic sounding name and surname.