Classical World Chess Championship 2000

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October 8 – November 4 | 👑 Vladimir Kramnik (Russia)


Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik
Photo by Owen Williams 2007
Copyright 2007 SMSI Inc Owen Williams The Kasparov Agency CC BY SA 30 httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby sa30 via Wikimedia Commons

Challenger: Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik, born in 1975 in Russia, had never won a Candidates Tournament, yet was handpicked by Kasparov as his challenger. Known for his deep positional understanding and technical precision, Kramnik entered the match with a bold strategy—neutralizing Kasparov’s attacking style with solid defensive play in the World Chess Championship 2000.

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

His Berlin Defense in the Ruy-Lopez became the defining feature of the match, frustrating Kasparov’s usual attacking play. Kramnik won two games and drew the rest, preventing the champion from securing a single victory.


Reigning Champion: Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov, born in 1963 in the Soviet Union, had been the Classical World Chess Champion since 1985, reigning for 15 years. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time, known for his dynamic attacking play and deep opening preparation.

Heading into this match, Kasparov had successfully defended his title multiple times, but the growing influence of modern computer preparation and defensive techniques posed new challenges.

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

Despite being the favorite, Kasparov struggled to break through Kramnik’s defenses, failing to win a single game.


Match Overview

The 2000 Classical World Chess Championship, held in London, UK, followed a best-of-16 format. The match saw Kramnik dominate Kasparov, whose aggressive style was neutralized by Kramnik’s deep preparation and defensive mastery.

Earlier Encounters

Key Moments and Highlights


Historical and Cultural Context

The 2000 Classical World Chess Championship marked the end of Kasparov’s 15-year reign, one of the longest in chess history. Kramnik’s Berlin Defense became a model for future World Championship matches, demonstrating the effectiveness of deep positional play over aggressive attacks.

Kramnik’s victory also solidified the Classical World Championship lineage, which remained separate from FIDE’s knockout system, creating further division in the chess world.

Final Score

PlayersW–L–DFinal Score
Vladimir Kramnik2–0–13
Garry Kasparov0–2–13

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

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