Did Vladimir Kramnik cheat at the 2006 World Championships against Topalov?

Since Garry Kasparov split from Fide in 1993, there were 2 world champions, classical and Fide world champion. Vladimir Kramnik defeated Kasparov in 2000 in an upset to become the classical world champion. Veselin Topalov was the Fide world champion since 2005 after winning the Fide World chess championships. Although Kramnik was invited to the 2005 Fide World chess championship, he refused to play because he was the classical world champion although he stated he would play the winner of that tournament. After months of negotiating, the two sides finally agreed to terms in April 2006. Each player would receive $500,000 regardless of the result.

The match was the best of 12 games with rapid tiebreaks. The time control was complicated, the primary one was 40 moves in 120 minutes. If that is met, then it is 20 moves in 60 minutes. If that is met, there is 15 minutes for each player. After move 61, there is 30 second increment. Kramnik previously had a +5 record against Topalov. 

This match was about to be one of the most controversial in chess history. After game 4, Topalov's manager complained about Kramnik's frequent restroom breaks. Kramnik later forfeited game 5 in protest. Topalov's manager showed that Kramnik's moves match the engine's top move 78% of the time. Later, the Fide investigation concluded that Kramnik did not use engine assistance. This event damaged their relationships so badly that since then, they've never shaken hands. 

If you enjoyed this post, comment, share this, check out my blog, and follow me.