Who is the leading expert on the Classical Sicilian?

Are there any great recent proponents of the Classical Sicilian? I only know of Shankland who frequently (now exclusively) plays it

Or just any frequent players in the modern age

Hasn't Loek Van Wely played it for ever?

Ahh I'll check him out, never really known any of his games 🤔

I know he has done videos and stuff on the Sicilian.  From what i have read, he is supposed to be one of those "leading proponents" of the opening.

Kramnik played it a lot when he was younger

Hmmm I've only seen his Najdorf repertoire, will read more on him. Thanks!

Ahhh right of course! Kramnik's great with the classical

Karpov definitely doesn't play the Classical Sicilian..

lol, will take note of when visiting 😉

Also Lupulescu.

It seems to have become MVLs opening of choice for occasions when he doesn't want to give away any Najdorf prep.

Has he? I know him mostly as a Najdorf player.  Searching chessgames.com for Van Wely and ECO codes B57-69, I can't find any games.

Ahh I'll check them out, Thanks!

Kramnik, MVL and Carlsen(sorry carlsen plays sveshnikov not classical). In the ancient players I believe Paulsen(of the famed paulsen attack in the french advanced) played the classical sicilian initially and developed many key ideas.

Ofc Giri played 1 or 2 games of classical recently. So you can look him up. He's one of the best prepared players alongside Caruana and Ding if not the best

Interestingly Classical Sicilian transposes into the Dragon very often as you get the powerful dragon bishop without being crushed by the pawn storm on the kingside as you can set up a blockade due to the early development of the knight

Karpov was an e4-e5 player I believe

Kozul and Jankovic. Spassky played it vs Fischer and was able to press for a win each time. Yermolinsky loved it. In times past, Torre & Larsen played it. It seems to be coming back as GMs start to use it as a surprise weapon [possibly because other GMs have less experience with Rauzer structures.]

Very true, more preferred in some structures & move orders over others but the development is very harmonious

Hmmm I'll have to check out the occasional Classical player 🤔 The Paulsen brothers basically first founded it so it's great for historical reference but not so much for modern play hahah

Ahhh some interesting names I've not heard play the Classical, thank you! Currently reading the excellent book by Yermolinsky, it's actually quite amazing how much experience speaks for itself.