Garry Kasparov, World's No. 1 Chess Player, Announces Retirement (washingtonpost.com)
MOSCOW (AP) — Garry Kasparov, the chess world's youngest-ever champion and its public face and undisputed king the last two decades, made a stunning move shortly after winning a prestigious tournament in Spain: he announced his retirement from professional play.
I hardly expect Kasparov to fade quietly from the chess scene just yet, but I cannot remember a time when he was not the dominant figure in chess. This is perhaps the beginning of the end of an era.