Vladímir Krámnik (Russia, 1975) usually places his pieces so well that the brilliant combinations flow naturally even though they are as profound as they are beautiful. This is what happens in this new entry by the former world champion – and Kasparov’s executioner, in 2000 – in The Corner of the Immortals.
The Russian, residing in Switzerland, belongs to the very restrictive club of champions with greater depth when it comes to understanding the essence of a position. Capablanca, Smyslov, Kárpov, Carlsen and perhaps no one else have achieved the positional virtuosity seen in this game, from start to finish.
