This unrivalled Russian Chess Grandmaster (2006 – 2007), was born on the 25th of June, in the year 1975. Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik. Having trained in Mikhail Botvinnik’s chess school since childhood he displayed extraordinary skill at playing chess. In fact his victory in the Olympiad of 1992 brought him instant recognition. At the young age of sixteen he won the title of Grandmaster. Though his selection to the Olympiad at this age raised controversy, he was supported by Gary Kasparov a brilliant chess master then. His stunning performance of eight victories and a single draw made it very easy for him to participate in the Chess Tournament in Linares the very next year.

Once again he proved his mettle by defeating Vassily Ivanchuk who then held the third position in the world. In 1995 the Classical World Chess Championship was held. In this Kramnik played as a second to Kasparov against Vishwanathan Anand and the match was won by Kasparov. Within a stretch of just six months this chess genius managed to play more games than the then number one, Kasparov. In 1996 Kasparov lost his position to Kramnik and the new number one held fast to this position for fourteen years. Vladimir Kramnik was the youngest player to hold the prestigious place. From 1995 to 2009 he won nine matches at Dortmund, once again breaking Kasparov’s record.

In 2000 the two grandmasters played against each other in the Classical World Chess Championship. Yet again Vladimir added another feather to his cap by defeating Kasparov in all the games, which was a record in itself. Several victories in the later years cemented his position as the world champion until his defeat in 2010 in his match opposite Vishwanathan Anand.