Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Borissovitch Kramnik (in; ), born with Touapse (then in the USSR, close to the Black Sea) the June 25th 1975, is a Russian player of failures . international Large-Master, it was world champion of failures of 2000 to 2007. In October 2007, Kramnik is classified n°3 world with a Classement Elo of: 2785.

In October 2000, it beats Garry Kasparov in a match of 16 parts played London becoming thus the “traditional” world champion.

It successfully defends its title in 2004 in a match of 14 parts against its challenger Peter Lékó in Brissago in Switzerland.

In October 2006, always considered as the “traditional” world champion, it beats the world champion FIDE, Veselin Topalov in a match of reunification of 12 parts.

From November 25th to December 5th, 2006, Kramnik faced in Bonn the software Deep Fritz in a match in six parts. It finally inclined 4-2 by losing two parts.

In 2007, it finishes in the second place of the Championnat of the world of failures 2007, thus yielding its title to Viswanathan Anand.

Its beginnings

Wire of a sculptor and a professor of music, it is initiated with the set of failures at the 5 years age. At 11 years, it receives the title of candidate-Master and integrates the school of failures of Mikhaïl Botvinnik. Its progression is fulgurating and at 16 years, he becomes international large-Master, without being international Maître.

He appears with the eyes of the general public to the Olympiade of failures of 1992 in Manila, where he carries out an exceptional performance (8,5/9), allowing the team of Russia to gain the gold medal. In 1993, at the 18 years age, it becomes n°4 world and Garry Kasparov predicts that it will be one world champion day.

Irony of the history, it is vis-a-vis its mentor that it acquires the championship of the “traditional” world in 2000 in London.

“Traditional” world champion (London 2000)

From October 8th to November 4th, 2000, he plays a match of 16 parts against Garry Kasparov with London for the championship of the “traditional” world of failures. The legitimacy of this match is disputed, because Kramnik loses the match of the candidates (supposed to indicate the adversary of Kasparov) against Alexei Shirov in 1998. But for lack of sponsor, the Kasparov-Shirov match forever take place. Kasparov then designates arbitrarily as challenger his dolphin with world classification, Vladimir Kramnik.

Against any waiting, Kramnik easily succeeds in neutralizing the tactical and dynamic play of Kasparov by adopting the Berliner Défense against the Spanish opening of Kasparov and by quickly exchanging the Ladies in many parts. Kramnik gains match 8,5-6,5 without losing only one part. He is today the only player to have beaten Kasparov in match.

The defense of the title (Brissago 2004)

It gives its title concerned against Peter Lékó (player Hungarian which was qualified by gaining the tournament of the candidates of Dortmund in 2002) in a match of 14 parts which is held in autumn 2004 with Brissago in Suisse.

It gains the first part finally, whereas Peter Lékó could have cancelled, but it loses the fifth part after a long fight. Lékó then manages to gain with the blacks in a Gambit Marshall in a convincing way, showing a defect in the preparation of Kramnik which followed the analyzes of its team and the computer.

This defeat makes him say: “Even if it means to lose a part, to lose it as much this manner. ” In the thirteenth part, Kramnik with the blacks manages to surprise Lékó, but this one, in a situation which seems desperate, succeeds in equalizing.

Finally, Kramnik manages to gain the left fourteenth, to equalize with the score (seven seven points) and thus to preserve its title of accuracy.

Health issues

Reached of a Spondylarthrite ankylosante, it connects into 2005 the disappointing results. It moves away temporarily from the world scene échiquéenne and declares in particular fixed price with the Chess tournament Corus 2006, to follow an important medical care.

Its Classement Elo decreases and it is, in April 2006, 9th world player.

After almost 6 months of absence, it carries out its great return to the Olympiade of failures of 2006 of Turin, where it obtains the gold medal with the 1st chess-board with a performance with: 2847.

“Unified” world champion (Elista 2006)

See also: Championship of World FIDE 2006

Topalov and Kramnik clashes in twelve parts, from September 23rd to October 13rd, 2006, in the capital kalmouke, Elista, for the championship of the “reunified” world (“traditional” world champion against world champion FIDE).

The meeting is tended and marked by several disputed operations of the Topalov camp showing, without proof, Kramnik of cheating. At the end of the twelve parts, the score is of 6-6. The parts of decides between semi-rapid turn to the advantage of Kramnik which gains the match of reunification on October 13rd and becomes world champion FIDE.

The confrontation with Deep Fritz (Bonn 2006)

After having conquered the championship of the reunified world, Kramnik starts a man/machine competition immediately, with for adversary the program Deep Fritz 10, assembled on a PC four-processor able to calculate up to 10 million blows at the second. The tournament, which takes place from November 25th to December 5th, 2006 with Bonn, is equipped with a price for Kramnik of a million USD in the event of victory and with: 500000 USD in the event of defeat. The competition is organized in six confrontations. Deep Fritz manages to gain two parts vis-a-vis Kramnik undoubtedly tired by its duel for the world title the previous month. Indeed, at the time of the second part, Kramnik made it possible the machine to subdue it in a blow in a position in addition balanced. The four other parts show null matches.

A preceding confrontation between Deep Fritz version 9 and Vladimir Kramnik had led on a tie in 2002.

The loss of the world title

Thanks to his victory over Topalov in 2006, Vladimir Kramnik is qualified for the Championnat of the world of failures 2007 with Mexico City, which consists of a double tournament closed rounds with 8 players (the FIDE breaking with the tradition of the matches). After a good start of tournament (2/3), he does not manage to carry it vis-a-vis Aleksandr Grichtchouk in a clearly advantageous position and concedes 6 null consecutive before inclining himself vis-a-vis Alexander Morozevitch, making it possible Viswanathan Anand to take only the head. Thanks to a good end of tournament (3,5/5) it takes the second place, managing to catch up with Boris Gelfand but not Anand. Kramnik loses its championship of the world thus.

A part

Kasparov - Kramnik

Back Hermanas, 1996

In spite of its reputation of positional player, Kramnik shows his innate direction of the tactical play while launching an attack of chechmate against Garry Kasparov, and that with the blacks!

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.Cf3 e6 5.e3 Cbd7 6.Fd3 dxc4 7.Fxc4 b5 8.Fd3 Fb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 c4 12.Fc2 Dc7 13.Cd4 Cc5 14.b4 cxb3 15.axb3 b4 16.Ca4 Ccxe4 17.Fxe4 Cxe4 18.dxe6 Fd6 19.exf7+ Dxf7 20.f3

20. … Dh5!! 21.g3 0-0 22.fxe4 Dh3 23.Cf3 Fxg3!!

Few players would dare to sacrifice 2 parts against Kasparov!

24.Cc5 Txf3 25.Txf3 Dxh2+ 26.Rf1 Fc6 27.Fg5 Fb5+ 28.Cd3 Te8 29.Ta2 Dh1+ 30.Re2 Txe4+ 31.Rd2 Dg2+ 32.Rc1 Dxa2 33.Txg3 Da1+ 34.Rc2 Dc3+ 35.Rb1 Td4 0-1

See too

Championship of the world of failures

External bonds

Official site
All Vladimir Kramnik Ranges
Official site of the meeting between Kramnik and Deep Fritz
Site of the championships of the world
Official site of the championship of the world of failures 2004
Official site of the championship of reunification FIDE-PCA

Reference

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