The Queen’s Gambit

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us take a moment to honor the remarkable mothers around the world who shape the future through love, selflessness and unrelenting support. These mothers often play a key role not only in raising their children, but in helping them achieve greatness. In the case of Garry Kasparov, one of the greatest chess players of all time, his success can be traced directly back to the woman who believed in him: his mother, Klara Kasparova. Today, we recognize her as the first and most important influence on Garry’s journey to greatness, the person who laid the foundation for his extraordinary achievements.

The title “The Queen’s Gambit” perfectly describes Klara’s role in Garry’s life. In chess, the Queen’s Gambit is a powerful strategy through which a player sacrifices a piece early to gain an advantage later. Klara made countless personal sacrifices for Garry—relinquishing her time, career and personal aspirations to help him reach his potential. Just like this chess move, she made the first pivotal decision, setting the stage for Garry’s success. Her guidance and support were essential in turning Garry into a world-class player who would change the course of chess history.