Deep Blue was a chess-playing supercomputer developed by IBM to challenge world champion Garry Kasparov. Building on earlier prototypes like Deep Thought, it combined specialized chess hardware with advanced search algorithms capable of evaluating up to 200 million positions per second. In 1996, it became the first computer to defeat a reigning world champion in a single game under standard time controls. In 1997, an upgraded Deep Blue won a six-game rematch against Kasparov, marking the first time a computer defeated a world champion in a match. The victory symbolized a milestone in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
Garry Kasparov (born 1963 in Baku, Azerbaijan) is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history. He became the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion in 1985 at age 22 after defeating Anatoly Karpov. Known for his deep preparation, aggressive style, and formidable intellect, Kasparov dominated the chess world for over two decades, holding the world No. 1 ranking for a record 255 months. Beyond chess, he became a writer, political activist, and outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin. Kasparov also famously faced IBM’s Deep Blue in 1997, highlighting the rise of computer chess and artificial intelligence.