Garry Kasparov’s ‘Little Joke’ on Rahul Gandhi’s Chess Skills Goes Viral
Chess Legend Garry Kasparov’s Witty Remark on Rahul Gandhi’s Chess Skills Creates Buzz
Russian chess legend Garry Kasparov recently made a cheeky comment on Indian politics that quickly went viral. The comment was in response to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s claim of being the best chess player among all Indian politicians.
Kasparov, a former world champion who retired in 2005, humorously suggested that Gandhi should “first win Rae Bareli before challenging for the top”. The 61-year-old later clarified that his comment was merely a joke and should not be interpreted as advocacy or expertise in Indian politics.
“I very much hope my little joke does not pass for advocacy or expertise in Indian politics! But as an ‘all-seeing monster with 1000 eyes,’ as I was once described, I cannot fail to see a politician dabbling in my beloved game!” Kasparov wrote in response to a post by actor Ranvir Shorey.
The Congress recently shared a video of Gandhi playing chess on his mobile phone while on the Lok Sabha election campaign trail. In the video, Gandhi named Kasparov as his favourite chess player and drew parallels between the game and politics.
A social media user made a cheeky comment on Kasparov’s page, expressing relief that Kasparov and Indian chess great Viswanathan Anand had retired early and didn’t have to face the “greatest chess genius of our times”. Kasparov responded to this post with his now-famous quip.
Gandhi, who filed his nomination from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh on Friday and is also contesting from Wayanad, described Kasparov as a “non-linear thinker” in the Congress video. He drew a comparison between chess and politics, stating that once you get slightly better at chess, the opponent’s pieces actually operate almost like your own.
Kasparov, a former world number one for a record 255 weeks, became the youngest-ever undisputed world champion at the age of 22 in 1985. He is now a political activist and a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Recently, when 17-year-old D Gukesh bettered Kasparov’s record of becoming the youngest challenger to the world title by winning the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, Kasparov congratulated him in a post, describing Gukesh as “the Indian earthquake in Toronto”.
