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.
Veselin Topalov (born 1975 in Ruse, Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster and former FIDE World Chess Champion. Known for his fighting spirit and uncompromising, tactical style, Topalov rose to the world elite in the late 1990s. He won the FIDE World Championship in 2005 and later challenged Vladimir Kramnik in the 2006 World Championship reunification match. Topalov achieved the world No. 1 ranking in 2006 and was renowned for his sharp opening preparation and willingness to take risks. Throughout his career, he has been considered one of the most dynamic and combative players of his generation.