Vladimir Kramnik

Born 1975 in Tuapse/Russia; Grandmaster 1992; peak Elo rating: 2809; World Champion 2000-2007; Chess Olympiad, Gold Medal: 1992, 1994, 1996; notable tournament victories: Dortmund 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, Dos Hermanas 1996, 1997, Tilburg 1997, Wijk aan Zee 1998, Linares 2000, 2003, 2004, Moscow 2007. The endgame virtuoso is one of the four players in chess history to cross the 2800 Elo barrier.