Rahul Gandhi had earlier spoken of his admiration for chess legend Garry Kasparov. (PHOTOs : PTI; Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour)
Garry Kasparov is a man who has a deep understanding of politics. Back in his home nation of Russia, Kasparov earned a reputation for standing up against Russian president Vladimir Putin and the ruling party. This defiance even led to an arrest warrant being issued recently for Kasparov in Russia on charges of “terrorism”.
The former world champion, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history, on Friday sent Indian social media users on X into a tizzy after a pointed comment on Indian politics.
Garry Kasparov was responding to a tweet from a user on X which read: “Feel so relieved that Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand retired early and didn’t have to face the greatest chess genius of our times.”
To this, the Russian grandmaster tweeted a pointed response: “Tradition dictates you should first win from Raebareli before challenging for top!”
The mention of Raebareli was possibly a reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who filed his nomination from the Raebareli constituency while accompanied by not mother Sonia Gandhi (the sitting MP from Raebareli), sister Priyanka and brother-in-law Robert Vadra, besides several top Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot.
In a video that had gone viral earlier, Rahul Gandhi had spoken at length about how he likes to play chess and how Kasparov is his favourite chess player.
Chess legend Garry Kasparov during the 2017 Grand Chess Tour. (PHOTO: via Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour)
“I like Kasparov. he puts a lot of psychological pressure. He’s a non-linear thinker,” Rahul Gandhi can be heard saying in the video.
Kasparov is facing troubles in his own country, where not only was arrest warrant issued in his name, but the former world champion was “arrested in absentia”.
Reacting to this, he had tweeted: “In absentia is definitely the best way I’ve ever been arrested! Good company, as well. I’m sure we’re all equally honored that Putin’s terror state is spending time on this that would otherwise go persecuting and murdering.”
