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Rustam QosimjonovWorld Chess Champion
Date of Birth: 05.12.1979
Country:  Uzbekistan |
Content:
Biography of Rustam Kasimdzhanov
Early Life and CareerRustam Kasimdzhanov, a chess grandmaster, was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He lost his father at a young age and was introduced to the world of chess by his older brother, Khurshid, who enrolled Rustam in a children's sports school with a focus on chess.
At the age of 18, Kasimdzhanov became an international grandmaster. He pursued higher education and graduated from the Faculty of Informatics at the National University in the capital city.
Emerging as a World Champion
In an unexpected turn of events, the relatively unknown Uzbek grandmaster, Rustam Kasimdzhanov, emerged as the world champion according to FIDE (International Chess Federation) in the tournament held in Tripoli, Libya. He was ranked a modest 54th in the global chess rating at the time. Only one person, the 83-year-old chess veteran Vasily Smyslov, believed in his victory. Smyslov predicted that since the surnames of most outstanding chess players, from Capablanca to Kasparov, started with "K", an Uzbek chess player would be the winner. Kasimdzhanov's opponent in the final was British chess player Michael Adams.
Recognition and Continued Success
Back in his home country of Uzbekistan, celebrations in honor of the champion continued for several days. Kasimdzhanov was bestowed with the highest honor, the Order of Timur, for his sporting prowess and courage.
In 2001, Kasimdzhanov, along with his wife Firuza, a former gymnast, and their son Azarkhon, moved to Germany. He currently works as a coach in Zollingen.
Before his triumph in Tripoli, Kasimdzhanov had participated in only one super tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, in 1999, where he placed 11th out of 14 players. His first success on the international stage came when he achieved 3rd place in the Junior World Championship in 1993.
