Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion. Born on June 25, 1975, in Moscow, Kramnik displayed early talent in chess, winning the World Under-18 Championship in 1991. He achieved the Grandmaster title in 1992.

Kramnik rose to prominence in the late 1990s, challenging for the world championship title. He famously defeated Garry Kasparov in a 14-game match in 2000 to become the Classical World Chess Champion. He successfully defended his title against Peter Leko in 2004 and against Viswanathan Anand in 2008 in a reunification match that brought the classical and FIDE titles together.

Known for his solid positional play, deep preparation, and excellent endgame technique, Kramnik was a formidable opponent. He retired from professional chess in 2019, leaving a significant legacy in the sport. Throughout his career, he achieved numerous tournament victories and maintained a top ranking in the world for many years. He is widely regarded as one of the strongest chess players of his generation.