Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik (born June 25, 1975) is a Russian chess Grandmaster and former World Chess Champion. He held the Classical World Chess Championship title from 2000 to 2007, defeating Garry Kasparov in 2000 and successfully defending it against Peter Leko in 2004. In 2006, he unified the World Championship titles by defeating FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov in a historic match.

Kramnik is known for his deeply positional and strategic style, often characterized by solid opening preparation and an uncanny ability to find subtle advantages. His famous Berlin Defense in the Ruy Lopez became a major weapon, often leading to drawish but highly complex positions that frustrated attacking players like Kasparov.

Throughout his career, Kramnik has been a formidable opponent, capable of both deep strategic understanding and precise tactical execution. His matches against Kasparov and Topalov are considered milestones in modern chess history, cementing his place as one of the greatest players of his generation. He retired from professional chess in 2019.