KRAMNIK: THE MOST HATED CHESS PLAYER ONLINE

9:53 | By Nibaldo - Instructor FIDE, Periodista, Escritor y Creador

GM Vladimir Kramnik

Por Nibaldo- Instructor FIDE

VLADIMIR KRAMNIK: THE MOST HATED CHESS PLAYER OF THE ONLINE ERA

For years, Vladimir Kramnik was admired as one of the great giants of classical chess: World Champion, strategic genius, the man who defeated Garry Kasparov and defined an era. But in 2024–2025, his reputation took a dramatic turn. Today, for many in the chess community, Kramnik is no longer seen as an icon… but as the most hated player of the moment.

And the reason has nothing to do with his chess.

It has everything to do with his accusations.

THE CONTROVERSY: KRAMNIK VS. THE “CHEATERS”

Kramnik has been extremely vocal on platforms like Chess.com and Lichess, insisting that online chess is full of cheating. According to him, the majority of players who beat him do so because they are using outside assistance—specifically, chess engines such as Stockfish to find the best moves during a game.

This is a serious accusation.

Using a chess engine in an online game is the ultimate form of cheating.

But here’s the issue:

🔹 Kramnik keeps accusing players… yet no evidence has ever been found.

🔹 None of the players he pointed at have been banned.

🔹 Every time he loses, he repeats the same claim: the opponent cheated.

Kramnik has fallen into a dangerous pattern:

If he wins, everything is normal.

If he loses, the opponent must have used an engine.

THE COMMUNITY REACTS: FROM RESPECT TO FRUSTRATION

What started as a legitimate concern—cheating is a real problem in online chess—quickly turned into something else. Many players, both amateurs and professionals, noticed a troubling trend:

Kramnik often refuses to accept defeat.

And in the world of chess, where sportsmanship and humility are highly valued, this attitude is poisonous.

Streamers, grandmasters, and top commentators have openly expressed discomfort with his behavior. For a community that grew up admiring him, seeing a legend launch accusations without proof is disappointing.

Today, his attitude is seen as:

arrogant,
out of touch with the online chess reality,
destructive,
and, for some, borderline paranoid.

This is why many players—especially younger generations—have grown to strongly dislike him.

THE CONSEQUENCES: A LEGEND IN A BAD POSITION

The saddest part is that the damage is mostly self-inflicted.

Since none of his claims have been proven, Kramnik ends up stuck between two narratives:

If he is telling the truth but can’t prove it, he appears conspiratorial.
If he is simply unable to accept losing, he appears petty and bitter.

Either way, his credibility suffers.

Today, Kramnik finds himself in the uncomfortable position of being a legendary champion whose public comments have overshadowed his achievements.

THE NEW, UNFORTUNATE LEGACY

Instead of being remembered for his historic victory over Kasparov or for his brilliant positional play, Kramnik is now being associated with something completely different:

👉 the grandmaster who accuses nearly everyone of cheating without proof.

And that has generated massive backlash.

Chess fans admire fighters—players who celebrate wins with humility and accept losses with dignity. Right now, Kramnik’s attitude places him far from that standard.

CONCLUSION

Vladimir Kramnik remains one of the greatest world champions in the history of chess. But in the online chess landscape, he has become a divisive figure—controversial, frustrated, and, for many, the most disliked player of the moment.

His constant accusations without evidence have damaged his reputation and placed him in a difficult spot:

a legend who appears to be battling not his opponents, but his own narrative.

Only time will tell whether he changes course, provides solid evidence, or continues down this path that has disappointed so much of the chess community.