Vladimir Kramnik
Vladimir Kramnik was born on June 25, 1975. He is a Russian chess grandmaster and the World Chess Champion from 2000 to 2007.
In October 2000, he beat Garry Kasparov in a sixteen game match played in London, and became the Classical World Chess Champion. In late 2004, Kramnik successfully defended his title against challenger Peter Leko in a drawn fourteen game match played in Brissago, Switzerland.
In October 2006, Kramnik, the Classical World Champion, defeated reigning FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov in a unification match, the FIDE World Chess Championship 2006. The match was mired with controversy over Topalov's protests about Kramnik's frequent use of the bathroom. Kramnik forfeited Game 5 after refusing to play when the Appeals Committee altered the conditions of the match. The match was tied at 6-6 after 12 regular games and Kramnik won the rapid tie-break 2.5-1.5. As a result Kramnik became the first undisputed World Champion, holding both the FIDE and Classical titles, since Kasparov split from FIDE in 1993.
In September 2007, Kramnik lost his title to Viswanathan Anand at the FIDE World Chess Championship 2007.
Vladimir Kramnik Repertoire with White pieces
| ECO |
Opening |
Games |
| D85 |
Gruenfeld, exchange variation |
38 games |
| D27 |
Queen's Gambit Accepted, classical, 6...a6 |
34 games |
| A17 |
English opening |
30 games |
| E97 |
King's Indian, orthodox, Aronin-Taimanov variation (Yugoslav attack / Mar del Plata variation) |
25 games |
Vladimir Kramnik Repertoire with Black pieces