Kramnik defeated Kasparov to become world champion in 2000. He defended this title (just) in 2004 in a match against Leko. In 2006 he defeated Topalov to become the first undisputed world champion since 1993. This victory vindicated the non-FIDE line of succession. His style is cool, calm, and collected and his play is consequently sound, solid, and (tactically) subtle. He has a fairly narrow openings repertoire but he knows what he plays very well indeed. He's a tough man to beat but not quite so tough to draw against. His tournament record isn't bad, but he doesn't seem to win enough games to enable him to achieve spectacular results. "Another solid performance from Kramnik" is now idiomatic.

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Here's a game between Vlad and Nige from a bit ago.

Short,N-Kramnik,V 2005

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. g3 g6
4. Bg2 Bg7
5. d3 d6
6. Be3 Rb8
7. Qd2 b5
8. f4 b4
9. Nd1 Qb6
10. Nf3 Nh6
11. a3 a5
12. axb4 axb4
13. h3 f5
14. O-O O-O
15. Bf2 e6
16. Ne3 Nf7
17. Nc4 Qc7
18. Rfe1 Rd8
19. exf5 exf5
20. c3 bxc3
21. bxc3 d5
22. Nce5 Nfxe5
23. fxe5 Nxe5
24. Nxe5 Bxe5
25. Qg5 Bb7
26. Ra7 Rd7
27. c4 Qd6
28. cxd5 Bf6
29. Qf4 Qxf4
30. gxf4 Rbd8
31. Re6 Bxd5
32. Rxd7 Bxe6
33. Rxd8+ Bxd8
34. Bxc5
½-½

Game source: Chesslab - a fantastic online resource.

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