Classical World Chess Championship 2004
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The Classical World Chess Championship 2004 took place in Brissago, Switzerland. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), the reigning champion, defended his title against Hungary’s Peter Leko.
This image is from the Sparkassen Chess Meeting 2006 and does not depict the 2004 World Championship match
Photo by Ygrek assumed Creative Commons Attribution 25
Winner/Reigning Champion: Vladimir Kramnik
Born: June 25, 1975, Tuapse, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Vladimir Kramnik was known for his deep strategic understanding and ability to neutralize his opponents’ attacking play. Having defeated Garry Kasparov in 2000 to become the Classical World Chess Champion, Kramnik was determined to defend his title successfully. His resilience in the final game of the match, overcoming Leko’s solid defense, demonstrated his championship character.
«When everything is at stake, every move is a test of character.» – Vladimir Kramnik
Challenger: Peter Leko
Born: September 8, 1979, Subotica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
Peter Leko, one of the strongest Hungarian chess player of his era, was renowned for his precision and endgame mastery. As the challenger, he demonstrated remarkable preparation, winning Game 8 with Black to take the lead. However, despite maintaining his advantage for much of the match, he was unable to hold Kramnik off in the final game.
«Every game is a lesson, but some lessons are tougher than others.» – Peter Leko
Match Overview
✔️ Format and Prize Fund
✔️ Match Format: Best-of-14 games
✔️ Time Control: 2 hours for 40 moves, followed by 1 hour for 20 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game with a 30-second increment per move.
✔️ Prize Fund: CHF 1,000,000 (approximately $800,000 USD)
✔️ Sponsorship: Organizers included the Centro Dannemann cigar company.
Historical and Cultural Context
The closely contested match highlighted Leko’s precision and endgame mastery against Kramnik’s strategic depth and determination. The draw-odds rule, which allowed the reigning champion to retain the title in case of a tie, played a decisive role in the final outcome.
This match was significant as it continued the division between the Classical World Championship and FIDE’s World Championship cycle. Kramnik’s retention of the title prolonged the split in world chess leadership, which would eventually be resolved in 2006 when Kramnik unified the titles against Veselin Topalov.
Final Score
| Player | W – L – D | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Vladimir Kramnik | 2 – 2 (10 draws) | 7.0 (Retained title) |
| Peter Leko | 2 – 2 (10 draws) | 7.0 |
World Chess Championship 2004 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
Classical World Chess Championship 2004
Vladimir Kramnik, Russia
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World Chess Championship 2004 Sources
Quote Sources
- Interview with Vladimir Kramnik (2004) – Post-match reflections.
- Interview with Peter Leko (2004) – Insights into his preparation and match experience.
General Sources
- FIDE Archives – Historical records on the 2004 championship.
- New in Chess Reports – Expert analysis of the match.
- British Chess Magazine Archives – Context on Kramnik’s title defense.
- Edward Winter’s Chess Notes – Detailed match analysis.
Image Credits
📸 Vladimir Kramnik vs. Peter Leko, Dortmund 2006
This image is from the Sparkassen Chess Meeting 2006 and does not depict the 2004 World Championship match.
Photo by Ygrek (assumed), Creative Commons Attribution 2.5.
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.