Classical World Chess Championship 2000

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The Classical World Chess Championship 2000, held in London, marked a pivotal moment in chess history. Vladimir Kramnik defeated Garry Kasparov, ending Kasparov’s 15-year reign as World Champion. Kramnik’s strategic use of the Berlin Defense and his solid positional play led to a match score of 8½–6½, with no losses.

Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik Classical World Chess Championship 2000 (Photo: Botvinnik Memorial 2001)
📸 Copyright 2007 SMSI Inc Owen Williams The Kasparov Agency CC BY SA 30 via Wikimedia Commons 2001

Winner: Vladimir Kramnik

Born: June 25, 1975, in Tuapse, Soviet Union (now Russia)

Vladimir Kramnik entered the match as a challenger without having won a Candidates Tournament. Known for his deep understanding of positional play and technical precision, he employed the Berlin Defense to neutralize Kasparov’s attacking style. His calm, pragmatic approach, combined with exceptional preparation, led to a breakthrough moment in chess history. Kramnik’s triumph challenged prevailing assumptions about aggression in modern chess, inspiring a generation of players to embrace strategic solidity.

«Preparation is essential in modern chess. The Berlin Wall was built long before the match.» – Vladimir Kramnik

Opponent: Garry Kasparov

Born: April 13, 1963, in Baku, Soviet Union (now Azerbaijan)

Garry Kasparov, considered one of the greatest chess players of all time, had been World Champion since 1985. Known for his dynamic attacks and opening innovations, he was the favorite in this match. Yet, he failed to win a single game, a first in his career. Kramnik’s deep preparation and positional understanding left Kasparov with no clear route to victory. The loss marked the end of Kasparov’s world championship career, though he remained dominant in tournament play until his retirement in 2005.

«I did everything I could, but Kramnik was simply too well-prepared.» – Garry Kasparov

Match Overview

🗓️ Dates: October 8 – November 2, 2000
📍 Location: London, United Kingdom
✅ Format: Best of 16 games
⏱️ Time Control: 40 moves in 2 hours, then 20 moves in 1 hour, then 15 minutes plus a 30-second increment
💰 Prize Fund: Estimated at $2 million, with Kasparov receiving the majority per pre-match agreement
📄 Main Sponsors: Braingames Network PLC (Intel as technology partner)

Garry Kasparov’s Legacy

  1. 1984 FIDE WCC vs. Anatoly Karpov – no decision
  2. 1985 FIDE WCC vs. Anatoly Karpov – win
  3. 1986 FIDE WCC vs. Anatoly Karpov – win
  4. 1987 FIDE WCC vs. Anatoly Karpov – win
  5. 1990 FIDE WCC vs. Anatoly Karpov – win
  6. 1993 PCA WCC vs. Nigel Short – win
  7. 1995 PCA WCC vs. Viswanathan Anand – win
  8. 2000 PCA WCC vs. Vladimir Kramnik – loss
Classical World Chess Championship 2000, Vladimir Kramnik (RUS), Garry Kasparov (RUS)

Classical World Chess Championship 2000 Games

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

Game 7

Game 8

Game 9

Game 10

Game 11

Game 12

Game 13

Game 14

Game 15

Classical World Chess Championship 2000

Vladimir Kramnik, Russia

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Classical World Chess Championship 2000 Sources

Quote Sources

General Sources

Photo Credits

📸 Garry Kasparov vs. Vladimir Kramnik, Botvinnik Memorial 2001
Copyright 2007, S.M.S.I., Inc. – Owen Williams, The Kasparov Agency: (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons, 2001.

Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.