Garry Kasparov is one of the best chess players of all time. Now he is a democracy activist and a fierce opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime.Chess is all about strategy and has been described as the world’s most popular “war game.” Kasparov views it as a blend of artistic creation, scientific preparation, and psychological warfare designed to destroy an opponent’s mental resources.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.The current war between Russia and Ukraine, in chess jargon, is a “stalemate” because neither side can win. Obviously, the goal is to achieve “checkmate,” which occurs when the “king” chess piece is under attack, has nowhere to go that is not also under attack, and has no way to block attacks.Regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine, Kasparov believes that the only way to achieve “checkmate” is for Russia to be pushed into bankruptcy. That would be a victory not just for Ukraine but for the world because it is the only way to end Russia’s evil imperialism.Many hope that Putin will be removed, but Kasparov says he will be replaced by an equally odious member of the “siloviki” – the inner circle of Russians emanating from security, military, and law enforcement agencies that run the nation.The war is going badly for Putin, so rivals are already circling, and some want him removed. But that won’t end the war. Another Russian expert, Boris Bondarev, a former diplomat who defected after Ukraine’s invasion, believes that any successor would be worse, due to the nature of the elite surrounding Putin and the indoctrination of the system.