Kasparov – Kramnik World Championship Match 2000

dates: 8 October–2 November 2000
location: Riverside Studios, London, United Kingdom
score: 6½–8½ (Kasparov–Kramnik)
winner: Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik at the 2005 Corus tournament. This photograph is not from a world championship match. Photo: steenslag.

Garry Kasparov defended the classical world championship against Vladimir Kramnik in London in 2000. The contest at Riverside Studios was scheduled for sixteen games. Kramnik, who had previously worked with Kasparov, faced a champion who had held the title since 1985.

Kramnik won games 2 and 10 and did not lose a game. His use of the Berlin Defence against Kasparov’s 1.e4 became a defining feature of the match. Thirteen draws, including the final five games, gave Kramnik an 8½–6½ victory after fifteen games and ended Kasparov’s fifteen-year reign.

The Berlin games are valuable defensive exercises, but the collection also shows how Kramnik created winning chances with White. Compare the second and tenth games with his Black defences to understand both parts of the result. Every played game is present, and you can choose either player without restricting training to the winner’s moves.

Garry Kasparov's Profile Vladimir Kramnik's Profile

Match results

Kasparov – Kramnik World Championship Match 2000 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Game 12	Game 13	Game 14	Game 15	Points
Garry Kasparov	0½	0	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	6½
Vladimir Kramnik	0½	1	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	1	0½	0½	0½	0½	0½	8½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 15.

Completed 0 / 15

Game 1: Ruy Lopez: a 25-move draw

Game 1 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4, reaching ruy lopez play (C67). The game was drawn after 25 moves. The running score was 0½–0½ (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Kramnik takes an early lead

Game 2 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5, reaching grünfeld defence play (D85). Vladimir Kramnik won with White after 40 moves. The running score was 0½–1½ (Kasparov–Kramnik). Kramnik took the lead in his first White game. Kasparov never recovered the point, and Kramnik remained unbeaten throughout the contest.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1-0	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	40	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Ruy Lopez: a 53-move draw

Game 3 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4, reaching ruy lopez play (C67). The game was drawn after 53 moves. The running score was 1–2 (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	53	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Queen’s Gambit Accepted: a 74-move draw

Game 4 began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 e6 4.e3 c5, reaching queen’s gambit accepted play (D27). The game was drawn after 74 moves. The running score was 1½–2½ (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	74	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: English Opening: a 24-move draw

Game 5 began 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5, reaching english opening play (A30). The game was drawn after 24 moves. The running score was 2–3 (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	24	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Queen’s Gambit Accepted: a 66-move draw

Game 6 began 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 e6 4.e3 c5, reaching queen’s gambit accepted play (D27). The game was drawn after 66 moves. The running score was 2½–3½ (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	66	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: English Opening: a 11-move draw

Game 7 began 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6, reaching english opening play (A31). The game was drawn after 11 moves. The running score was 3–4 (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	11	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Nimzo-Indian Defence: a 38-move draw

Game 8 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O, reaching nimzo-indian defence play (E32). The game was drawn after 38 moves. The running score was 3½–4½ (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Ruy Lopez: a 30-move draw

Game 9 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4, reaching ruy lopez play (C67). The game was drawn after 30 moves. The running score was 4–5 (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	30	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Kramnik doubles his advantage

Game 10 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O, reaching nimzo-indian defence play (E53). Vladimir Kramnik won with White after 25 moves. The running score was 4–6 (Kasparov–Kramnik). Kramnik’s second win widened the lead to two points. Five subsequent draws were enough to win the championship.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1-0	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	25	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Ruy Lopez: a 41-move draw

Game 11 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6, reaching ruy lopez play (C78). The game was drawn after 41 moves. The running score was 4½–6½ (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Nimzo-Indian Defence: a 33-move draw

Game 12 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O, reaching nimzo-indian defence play (E55). The game was drawn after 33 moves. The running score was 5–7 (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	33	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Ruy Lopez: a 14-move draw

Game 13 began 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4, reaching ruy lopez play (C67). The game was drawn after 14 moves. The running score was 5½–7½ (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	14	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: English Opening: a 57-move draw

Game 14 began 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7, reaching english opening play (A15). The game was drawn after 57 moves. The running score was 6–8 (Kasparov–Kramnik).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	57	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: A draw ends Kasparov’s reign

Game 15 began 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7, reaching catalan structures play (E06). The game was drawn after 38 moves. The running score was 6½–8½ (Kasparov–Kramnik). The draw gave Kramnik the required 8½ points. The scheduled sixteenth game was unnecessary, and Kasparov’s reign ended without a win in the match.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Kramnik - Kasparov World Championship Match	2000	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-12

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