Garry Kasparov Family Tree: The Story Behind Chess's Political Champion

Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born Garik Kimovich Weinstein), born 13 April 1963 in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR (now Azerbaijan), is a Russian chess grandmaster — World Chess Champion 1985-2000 (longest reign since Emanuel Lasker); highest peak Elo of any pre-Carlsen player: 2851 (1999); politically active — Russian opposition leader and Putin critic; famously lost to IBM's Deep Blue in 1997.

The Family's Roots: A Jewish-Armenian Family in Baku

Father was Russian-Jewish; mother is Armenian.

His Parents

Father: Kim Moiseyevich Weinstein (d. 1970 of leukemia at 39).

Mother: Klara Shagenovna Kasparyan — Armenian; devoted her life to Garry's career.

Kasparov changed his surname from Weinstein to Kasparov (his mother's Armenian family name) at 12.

His Wives

Masha Arapova (m. 1989, div. 1993).

Yulia Vovk (m. 1996, div. 2005).

Daria Tarasova (m. 2005) — Russian.

His Children

Polina Kasparova, b. 1993 — daughter with Masha.

Vadim Kasparov, b. 1996 — son with Yulia.

Aida Kasparova, b. 2006 — daughter with Daria.

Nickolas Kasparov, b. 2015 — son with Daria.

The Kasparov Family Tree at a Glance

Father: Kim Moiseyevich Weinstein (d. 1970 of leukemia at 39).

Mother: Klara Kasparyan — Armenian.

Wives: Masha Arapova (1989-93); Yulia Vovk (1996-2005); Daria Tarasova (m. 2005).

Children: Polina (b. 1993, Masha); Vadim (b. 1996, Yulia); Aida (b. 2006, Daria); Nickolas (b. 2015, Daria).

Garry Kasparov:

  • Born 13 April 1963, Baku
  • Trained at Botvinnik-Kasparov school
  • Youngest World Junior Champion: 1980
  • Youngest Chess Grandmaster at 17y 5m
  • World Chess Champion: 9 November 1985 (age 22y 7m — youngest ever), beating Anatoly Karpov
  • Reigned: 1985-2000 (15 years, longest since Lasker)
  • Highest peak Elo: 2851 (1999)
  • Lost to Deep Blue: 11 May 1997 (Game 6, 3.5-2.5) — landmark moment
  • Lost undisputed title: November 2000 to Vladimir Kramnik
  • Retired from chess: 2005
  • Russian Opposition: founded United Civil Front, Solidarnost; ran for president 2007 (withdrew)
  • Chairman of Human Rights Foundation

What the Kasparov Family Story Teaches Us

A Russian-Jewish father lost at 7. An Armenian mother who devoted herself to his career. Three marriages. Four children across three wives. A career of 15 years as World Champion and a post-chess life as Russia's most-prominent opposition figure.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Kasparov story carries the same lesson. Some careers turn 15 years as world champion into 20 years of political dissent.

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