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Friday, 13 October 2006, 17:56 GMT 18:56 UK

Kramnik is world chess champion

World Chess Champion Veselin Topalov, left, and Classical World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, right The chess world has an undisputed world champion for the first time since 1993, after Russia's Vladimir Kramnik won a reunification match in a tie-break.

His match with Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov was tied 6-6 at the end of the scheduled series.

In a tiebreaker series of four rapid-play games, Kramnik won the final one to beat his rival 8.5-7.5 overall.

The match reunified two rival chess organisations which split apart 13 years ago.

The dispute dated from the occasion when Garry Kasparov withdrew from the World Chess Federation.

"We are planning to get drunk with my friends today"
Vladimir Kramnik

Veselin Topalov was recognised as the World Chess Champion, and Vladimir Kramnik the Classical World Champion.

As Topalov resigned in the final game, Kramnik stood up and celebrated his victory by clutching his hands above his head, as his team erupted in joyful cheers.

"We are planning to get drunk with my friends today," he said.

Both players - each 31 years old - will be paid $500,000 (£270,000) for taking part in the match, which was held in the Russian republic of Kalmykia.

The match, which lasted three weeks, was seeped in tension, with both sides protesting about the behaviour of the other.

At one point Kramnik was accused of taking too many toilet breaks, and the toilets were locked.



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Related to this story:
Toilet breaks trigger chess row (29 Sep 06 |  Europe )
Game of kings takes centre stage (25 Sep 06 |  Europe )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
World Chess Championship
Kramnik homepage
Etiquette for chess watchers
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