The strength of the playing ability is much more important. Only if the strength of the opponent's playing ability is comparable, does the game develop.

Kramnik refused to play the fifth game unless the original conditions agreed for the match were adhered to. In 2007 Kramnik lost the title to Viswanathan Anand who won the World Chess Championship 2007 tournament ahead of Kramnik. Kramnik's performance won him the Chess Oscar for 2000; this was the first time he had received the award.

He was the Classical World Chess Champion from 2000 to 2006 and the undisputed World Chess Champion from 2006 to 2007. In October 2006 Kramnik the Classical World Champion defeated reigning FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov in a unification match the World Chess Championship 2006. He has won three team gold medals and three individual medals at Chess Olympiads.