Garry Kasparov's IQ: 190
Estimated IQ
190
Known For
Chess world champion, political activist
About Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov has a tested IQ of approximately 190, making him one of the highest verified scores among living people. Kasparov dominated world chess for over 20 years (1985-2005), and his legendary 1997 matches against IBM's Deep Blue were pivotal moments in AI history. His ability to calculate dozens of moves ahead while simultaneously evaluating millions of positions demonstrates extraordinary pattern recognition and working memory.
What an IQ of 190 Means
Kasparov's 190 IQ is one of the few extremely high scores that has been verified through formal testing. His chess ability represents a near-perfect application of pattern recognition, working memory, and strategic thinking — cognitive skills that IQ tests directly measure. After retiring from chess, Kasparov became a political activist and AI commentator, demonstrating that his intelligence extends well beyond the chessboard.
How Garry Kasparov Compares
To understand where this falls on the IQ scale, see our complete IQ score ranges guide, or learn what IQ actually measures.
Famous IQ Comparison
| Person | Estimated IQ | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Garry Kasparov | 190 | Chess world champion, political activist |
| Beyoncé | 115–125 | Singer, performer, business mogul, cultural icon |
| Donald Trump | 120–135 | 45th & 47th US President, real estate, media |
| Snoop Dogg | 130–145 | Rapper, actor, entrepreneur, cultural icon |
| LeBron James | 110–120 | NBA legend, 4x champion, business mogul |
| Jodie Foster | 132 | Academy Award actress, director, Yale graduate |
| Marilyn Monroe | 163 | Actress, cultural icon, Hollywood legend |
See the complete famous IQ list or check what an IQ of 190 means.
Where This Estimate Comes From
- Tested for the German magazine Der Spiegel in 1987, reportedly scoring about 135 with exceptional memory results
- The popular 190 figure is media inflation, not a recorded score
- The Der Spiegel testing is documented; the 190 claim is not
Estimate disclaimer: Garry Kasparov's IQ figure is a speculative estimate compiled from public sources, not a verified test result. See how we compile these estimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Garry Kasparov's IQ?
Kasparov has a tested IQ of approximately 190, one of the highest verified scores ever recorded. This is consistent with his extraordinary chess abilities and his success in multiple intellectual domains after retirement from competitive chess.
Is Kasparov the smartest chess player?
By IQ, likely yes — his 190 is the highest known among chess players. Magnus Carlsen, the current world champion, is estimated at 180-190. Bobby Fischer was estimated around 180. All are in the profoundly gifted range.
How does chess relate to IQ?
Chess ability correlates with IQ at about 0.4-0.5 — a moderate correlation. Top grandmasters almost always have very high IQs (140+), but chess also requires extensive practice and memorization. High IQ is necessary but not sufficient for chess mastery.
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MyIQScores Editorial Team
Researchers in cognitive psychology, psychometrics & educational science
Last updated
May 10, 2026
All content on MyIQScores is reviewed for scientific accuracy against peer-reviewed research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics. Our editorial team cross-references each article with published literature before publication and updates pages whenever new research warrants a revision.