World Chess Champions (Reunification of the Title)

🌍 World Chess Champions
(Reunification of the Title)

🌍 World Chess Champions
- before FIDE
- Domination of Soviet Union Players
- FIDE and PCA - Split Title

The plan for Reunification of the Title under Prague Agreement when it was drawn up in 2002 was that FIDE World Champion, GM. Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine) and world number one on the FIDE rating list, GM. Garry Kasparov (Russia) played a match,
and that the PCA (Classical) World Champion, GM. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and winner of the 2002 PCA Candidates Tournament (Dortmund Tournament), GM. Péter Lékó (Hungary) played each other.
The winners of these two matches would then play one another to determine a Unified World Champion.

The match between Ponomariov and Kasparov never took place after FIDE and Ponomariov did not reach an agreement.
Additionally Ponomariov refused to defend his title in FIDE World Championship 2004 to protest against the preponderant role FIDE granted Kasparov in the reunification process.

Then FIDE announced that the winner of the next FIDE World Championship would play against Kasparov in a match to be held no later than July 2005.
GM. Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan) finally became FIDE World Champion by winning the FIDE World Championship 2004.

The FIDE World Championship 2004 was a part of the most serious attempt to reunify the title under Prague Agreement when it was drawn up in 2002.
FIDE opened the bidding for the Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov match in August 2004.
Then FIDE President 1995-2018, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (Russia), announced the match had been awarded to the United Arab Emirates.
The plan did not come to fruition because the promised funding for the match never arrived, and plans to hold the match instead in Turkiye also did not come to fruition.

The whole question of how and when the Kasparov-Kasimdzhanov match would take place, or what would occur in its stead, was made irrelevant by Kasparov's announcement in March 2005 that he was retiring from serious chess.

The match between Ponomariov-Kasparov never took place, nor did Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov take place,
meanwhile Kramnik and Lékó played their match in September–October 2004 at the PCA (Classical) World Chess Championship which Kramnik won, thus Kramnik remained as PCA (Classical) World Champion.

The titles were then unified at the FIDE World Championship 2006 between the FIDE World Champion, GM. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and PCA (Classical) World Champion, GM. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia).

GM. Vladimir Kramnik
World Champion:  2006-2007
PCA World Champion:  2000-2006
Peak Rating:  2817 (October 2016)
Nationality:  Russia
PCA Defended Title:  1 time

Born:  June 25, 1975 - Tuapse, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union

FIDE World Championship 2006
Elista, Russia (September 23 - October 13)

The FIDE World Championship 2006 was to reunite the two World Chess Champion titles between the FIDE World Champion, GM. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and PCA (Classical) World Champion, GM. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia).

Time Control:  40 moves in 2 hours
and then 20 moves in 1 hour,
 followed by 15 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 61 to complete the game.
Winner:  first player to reach 6½ points,
in the event of 6 -6 tie,
four Rapid Chess games (25 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move),
followed by two Blitz games (5 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move) if required,
followed by a Sudden Death game or a Armageddon Chess game (White has 6 minutes and must win; Black has 5 minutes and only needs to draw).

GM. Vladimir Kramnik (2743, Russia)  vs  GM. Veselin Topalov (2813, Bulgaria) 

Kramnik won the first and second games, and the third and fourth games ended in draws, giving him a 3–1 lead over Topalov.
After the fourth game, on September 28 on a rest day, Topalov's manager IM. Silvio Danailov complained to the match organizers and the press about Kramnik's repeated visits to the bathroom which was the only place not under audio or video surveillance, and called the frequency of the breaks, “strange, if not suspicious”.

The following day,, the Appeals Committee determined that, although the frequency of Kramnik's visits to the toilet had been exaggerated, the private bathrooms would be closed and a common toilet opened for both players.

In response, Kramnik's manager Carsten Hensel insisted that the original match conditions must be adhered to.
Hensel also declared his lack of confidence in the Appeals Committee and demanded that its members be changed.

Game 5, awaiting a reversal of the Appeal Committee's decision, Kramnik refused to play, and then the Chief Arbiter declared that Kramnik had forfeited.

The players were invited for a meeting by FIDE President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (Russia) to discuss the actual situation of the match and to solve the problems.

On October 1, FIDE announced that agreement had been reached that the original bathroom arrangements would be reinstated and that the Appeals Committee had resigned and would be replaced.

Final Score:  8½ - 7½ (Rapid 2½-1½)
(Kramnik: +3, =6, -3 and Rapid +2, =1, -1 )

The allegations of cheating seriously damaged relations between Kramnik and Topalov.
In 2017, Kramnik and Topalov still refused to shake hands in their encounters.

GM. Viswanathan Anand
World Champion:  2007-2013
FIDE World Champion:  2000-2002
Peak Rating:  2817 (March 2011)
Nationality:  India
Defended Title:  3 times
Regained Title:  1 time

Born:  December 11, 1969 - Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, India

In 2006, FIDE announced the FIDE World Championship 2006 to reunify the world chess championship.
Because the organization of the FIDE World Championship 2007 was largely in place, conditions of that match included, if PCA (Classical) World Champion, GM. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) defeated FIDE World Champion, GM. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Kramnik would take Topalov's place in the FIDE World Championship 2007.

FIDE later announced that future world championships (beginning with the FIDE World Championship 2008) would be decided by matches between the World Champion and a challenger.
At the same time FIDE announced that, as compensation for being denied entry to the FIDE World Championship 2007, Topalov would have special privileges in the FIDE World Championship 2010.

GM. Magnus Carlsen (Norway) qualified for the Candidates Tournament held in May-June 2007.
He was seeded 16 out of 16 participants and was eliminated in the first round by seed 1, GM. Levon Aronian (Armenia).
Previously, he first played in the FIDE World Championship 2004, and was eliminated in the first round by the same opponent, Aronian.

Four players who qualified for the FIDE World Championship 2007 from the Candidates Tournament 2007 were Aronian, GM. Péter Lékó (seed 2, Hungary), GM. Boris Gelfand (seed 4, Israel) and GM. Alexander Grischuk (seed 6, Russia).

Regained Title

FIDE World Championship 2007
Mexico City, Mexico (September 12-30)

The tournament was a double round robin with 8 players,
- Kramnik as World Champion,
- GM. Viswanathan Anand (India), GM. Peter Svidler (Russia) and GM. Alexander Morozevich (Russia), second to fourth places at the FIDE World Championship 2005,
- four players from the 2007 Candidates Tournament.

Format:  double round-robin
Tie-Break:
- the first, head-to-head result
- the second, total number of wins
- the third, Sonneborn–Berger (SB) or Neustadtl (NS)
Time Control:  40 moves in 2 hours
and then 20 moves in 1 hour,
 followed by 15 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 61 to complete the game.

Match Results
Anand
Kramnik ½ ½, Gelfand ½ ½, Lékó ½ ½, Svidler 1 ½, Morozevich ½ 1, Aronian 1 ½, Grischuk 1 ½ 

Kramnik
Gelfand ½ ½, Lékó ½ 1, Svidler ½ ½, Morozevich 1 0, Aronian ½ 1, Grischuk ½ ½

Gelfand
Lékó ½ ½, Svidler ½ ½, Morozevich 1 ½, Aronian 1 1, Grischuk ½ 0

Lékó
Svidler ½ ½, Morozevich ½ 1, Aronian 0 ½, Grischuk ½ 1

Svidler
Morozevich 0 ½, Aronian ½ ½, Grischuk ½ 1

Morozevich
Aronian ½ ½, Grischuk 0 1

Aronian
Grischuk ½ 1

Final Standings
GM. Viswanathan Anand (2792, India)
9 pts.  (+4, =10, -0)
GM. Vladimir Kramnik (2769, Russia)
8 pts. / SB 54.50  (+3, =10, -1)
GM. Boris Gelfand (2733, Israel)
8 pts. / SB 54.25  (+3, =10, -1)
GM. Péter Lékó (2751, Hungary)
7 pts.  (+2, =10, -2)
GM. Peter Svidler (2735, Russia)
6½ pts.  (+1, =11, -2)
GM. Alexander Morozevich (2758, Russia)
6 pts.  (+3, =6, -5)
GM. Levon Aronian (2750, Armenia)
6 pts.  (+2, =8, -4)
GM. Alexander Grischuk (2726, Russia)
5½ pts.  (+2, =7, -5)

Defended Title

FIDE World Championship 2008
Bonn, Germany (October 14-29)

Starting from the complications of reunifying the World Champion title in the FIDE World Championship 2006, GM. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) who lost his title to GM. Viswanathan Anand (India) in the FIDE World Championship 2007 was given the right to challenge to regain his title in a Rematch.

Time Control and Winner, the same as the FIDE World Championship 2006.

GM. Viswanathan Anand (2783, India)  vs  GM. Vladimir Kramnik (2772, Russia)
Final Score:  6½ - 4½
(Anand: +3, =7, -1) 

By winning this match, Anand cemented the legitimacy of his World Champion status beyond reproach.
This is because Anand did not win the FIIDE World Championship 2007 in the traditional manner, by defeating the defending champion in a head-to-head match, but instead by winning a tournament.

FIDE World Championship 2010
Sofia, Bulgaria (April 24 - May 13)

As compensation for being denied entry to the FIDE World Championship 2007, GM. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) had special privileges in the FIDE World Championship 2010.
He directly played in the Challenger Match against GM. Gata Kamsky (U.S.A.), the winner of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2008 which was a qualifying tournament for the FIDE World Championship 2010.

The Challenger Match held in 2009, Topalov defeated Kamsky 4½-2½, earning the right to challenge GM. Viswanathan Anand (India) at the FIDE World Championship 2010.

Time Control and Winner, the same as the FIDE World Championship 2006.

GM. Viswanathan Anand (2787, India)  vs  GM. Veselin Topalov (2805, Bulgaria)
Final Score:  6½ - 5½
(Anand: +3, =7, -2)

FIDE World Championship 2012
Moscow, Russia (May 10-31)

In November 2010, world number 2, GM. Magnus Carlsen (Norway) withdrew from the 2011 Candidates Tournament citing the selection process as not sufficiently modern and fair.

Time Control:  40 moves in 2 hours
and then 20 moves in 1 hour,
 followed by 15 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 61 to complete the game.
Winner:  first player to reach 6½ points,
in the event of 6 -6 tie,
four Rapid Chess games (25 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move),
followed by two Blitz games (5 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move) if required,
if tied, another two Blitz games would be played,
If tied after ten Blitz games (five matches of best-of-two Blitz games), a Sudden Death game or a Armageddon Chess game (White has 6 minutes and must win; Black has 5 minutes and only needs to draw).

GM. Viswanathan Anand (2791, India)  vs  GM. Boris Gelfand (2727, Israel)
Final Score:  8½ - 7½ (Rapid 2½-1½)
(Anand: +1, =10, -1 and Rapid +1, =3, -0)

GM. Magnus Carlsen
World Champion:  2013-2023
Peak Rating:  2882 (May 2014)
Nationality:  Norway
Defended Title:  4 times

Born:  November 30, 1990 - Tønsberg, Norway

FIDE World Championship 2013
Chennai, India (November 7-25)

Time Control and Winner, the same as the FIDE World Championship 2012.

GM. Magnus Carlsen (2870, Norway)  vs  GM. Viswanathan Anand (2775, India)
Final Score:  6½ - 3½
(Carlsen: +3, =7, -0)

Defended Title

FIDE World Championship 2014
Sochi, Russia (November 7-25)

Time Control and Winner, the same as the FIDE World Championship 2012.

GM. Magnus Carlsen (2863, Norway)  vs  GM. Viswanathan Anand (2792, India)
Final Score:  6½ - 4½
(Carlsen: +3, =7, -1)

FIDE World Championship 2016
New York City, U.S.A. (November 10-30)

Time Control:  40 moves in 100 minutes
and then 20 moves in 50 minutes,
 followed by 15 minutes to complete the game,
with 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 1.
(the players could not draw a game by agreement before Black's 30th move, but they could claim a draw by threefold repetition or stalemate had occurred)
Winner:  first player to reach 6½ points,
in the event of 6 -6 tie,
four Rapid Chess games (25 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move),
followed by two Blitz games (5 minutes and 3 seconds increment per move) if required,
if tied, another two Blitz games would be played,
If tied after ten Blitz games (five matches of best-of-two Blitz games), a Sudden Death game or a Armageddon Chess game (White has 5 minutes and must win; Black has 4 minutes and only needs to draw, 3 seconds increment per move starting at the move 61). 

GM. Magnus Carlsen (2853, Norway)  vs  GM. Sergey Karjakin (2772, Russia)
Final Score:  9 - 7 (Rapid 3-1)
(Carlsen: +1, =10, -1 and Rapid +2, =2, -0)

FIDE World Championship 2018
London, England (November 9-28)

Time Control and Winner, the same as the FIDE World Championship 2016. 

GM. Magnus Carlsen (2835, Norway)  vs  GM. Fabiano Caruana (2832, U.S.A.)
Final Score:  9 - 6 (Rapid 3-0)
(Carlsen: +0, =12, -0 and Rapid +3, =0, -0)

The only time in the history of the World Chess Championship that all Classical games have been drawn.

FIDE World Championship 2021
Dubai, U.A.E. (November 24 - December 12)

Time Control:  40 moves in 2 hours
and then 20 moves in 1 hour,
 followed by 15 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 61 to complete the game.
(the players could not draw a game by agreement before Black's 40th move, but they could claim a draw by threefold repetition or stalemate had occurred)
Winner:  first player to reach 7½ points,
in the event of 7 -7 tie,
four Rapid Chess games (25 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move),
followed by two Blitz games (5 minutes and 3 seconds increment per move) if required,
if tied, another two Blitz games would be played,
If tied after ten Blitz games (five matches of best-of-two Blitz games), a Sudden Death game or a Armageddon Chess game (White has 5 minutes and must win; Black has 4 minutes and only needs to draw, 2 seconds increment per move starting at the move 61).

GM. Magnus Carlsen (2856, Norway)  vs  GM. Ian Nepomniachtchi (2782, CFR)
Final Score:  7½ - 3½
(Carlsen: +4, =7, -0)

A few days after Carlsen defended his World Champion title, he stated that he lacked the motivation to defend his title again, unless the challenger was GM. Alireza Firouzja (France).
Firouzja had risen to number two in the world rankings in 2021 at age 18.

Nepomniachtchi played under the initials CFR flag because World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions barred FIDE from using the Russian flag and initials flag with the full name "Chess Federation of Russia".

The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships, and it is implemented by WADA in response to the state-sponsored doping program of Russian athletes.

GM. Ding Liren
World Champion:  2023-2024
Peak Rating:  2816 (November 2018)
Nationality:  China

Born:  October 24, 1992 - Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

Since 2013, every Candidates Tournament is contested by eight players in a double round-robin format to determine a challenger for the FIDE World Championship.

The 8 players who qualified for the 2022 Candidates Tournament were GM. Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) - FIDE World Championship 2021, GM. Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) - candidate nominated by FIDE, GM. Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) and GM. Sergey Karjakin (Russia) - winner and runner-up FIDE Chess World Cup 2021, GM. Alireza Firouzja (France) and GM. Fabiano Caruana (U.S.A.) - winner and runner-up FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2021, GM. Hikaru Nakamura (U.S.A.) and GM. Richárd Rapport (Hungary) - winner and runner-up FIDE Grand Prix 2022.

But Karjakin was disqualified for breaching the FIDE Code of Ethics after publicly expressing approval of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Karjakin was replaced by GM. Ding Liren (China) - the highest-rated player (May 2022) who had not yet qualified.

Nepomniachtchi won the 2022 Candidates Tournament undefeated with one round remaining, Ding ended up in second place.

The defending World Champion, GM. Magnus Carlsen (Norway) announced after the 2022 Candidates Tournament that he would not defend the world champion title, both first and second place advanced to the FIDE World Championship 2023 title match.

After Carlsen formally confirmed his decision in writing, FIDE officially invited Ding to participate in the FIDE World Championship 2023.

Carlsen decided not to defend his title against Nepomniachtchi, stating he was "not motivated to play another match".

FIDE World Championship 2023
Astana, Kazakhstan (April 9-30)

Time Control, the same as the FIDE World Championship 2021.
Winner:  first player to reach 7½ points,
in the event of 7 -7 tie,
four Rapid Chess games (25 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move),
followed by two Blitz games (5 minutes and 3 seconds increment per move) if required,
if tied, another two Blitz games would be played,
If tied after four Blitz games (two matches of best-of-two Blitz games), a single Blitz game (3 minutes and 2 seconds increment per move) would be played and would be repeated until either player wins a game.

GM. Ding Liren (2788, China)  vs  GM. Ian Nepomniachtchi (2795, FIDE)
Final Score:  9½ - 8½ (Rapid 2½-1½)
(Ding: +3, =8, -3 and Rapid +1, =3, -0)

Nepomniachtchi played under the FIDE flag due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

GM. Gukesh Dommaraju
World Champion:  2024-present
Peak Rating:  2794 (October 2024)
Nationality:  India

Born:  May 29, 2006 - Chennai, India

FIDE World Championship 2024
Singapore (November 25 - December 12)

Time Control:  40 moves in 2 hours
and then 30 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move starting with move 41 to complete the game.
(the players could not draw a game by agreement before Black's 40th move, but they could claim a draw by threefold repetition or stalemate had occurred)
Winner:  first player to reach 7½ points,
in the event of 7 -7 tie,
four Rapid Chess games (15 minutes and 10 seconds increment per move),
if tied, another two Rapid Chess games (10 minutes and 5 seconds increment per move),
if tied, two Blitz games (3 minutes and 2 seconds increment per move),
if tied, a single Blitz game (3 minutes and 2 seconds increment per move) would be played
and If this game was drawn, another blitz game with reversed colours would be played and would be repeated until either player wins a game.

GM. Gukesh Dommaraju (2783, India)  vs  GM. Ding Liren (2728, China)
Final Score:  7½ - 6½
(Gukesh: +3, =9, -2)