Kramnik's Cheating Gambit
A geopolitical view on the cheating debate.
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Why is Vladimir Kramnik risking his reputation and legacy by accusing people left and right of cheating in Title Tuesday on Chess.com?
In my post ‘What Chess Players Need to Know About Chess.com’s Accuracy Score,’ I wrote about why using the Chess.com accuracy score is a poor tool for cheat detection. However, it seems that statistics and scientific methods are not important to Kramnik in his attacks on Chess.com and the titled players competing in Title Tuesdays. He continues to throw out random numbers.
The latest victim was the always polite GM David Navara, who wrote an excellent blog post about the effect the attack had on him. Kramnik is of course denying that he is accusing anyone, but just presenting facts. But cherry-picking data and presenting it in the way he does will be perceived as accusations.
“Bad statistics can sometimes be worse than no statistics.”1
— GM David Navara
It feels inherently wrong that many are swayed by Kramnik’s discourse, which critiques Chess.com’s anti-cheating measures. On the YouTube channel Levitov Chess, run by Ilya Levitov, the former Russian Chess Federation (RCF) Chairman, Kramnik has been given a platform for his mathematical “proofs'“.
The method follows the classic online engagement trick that suggests you will get ten times more engagement by saying something slightly wrong compared to something neutral and factual.
Erik Allebest, Chess.com CEO, has also been interviewed and had to defend the way Chess.com handles online cheating. My overall impression is that Chess.com has been playing defense. While Kramnik, leveraging his status as a former world champion, has managed to dominate the online conversation. Some might argue that Kramnik has become an erratic madman, but what if he hasn’t gone mad?
First, we should ask, what is Kramnik’s role in the chess world besides being a former champion?
Currently, he is a member of the FIDE Advisory Board. According to the regulations of the Advisory Board, the board’s main objective is:
The Board provides advisory opinion, recommendations and / or makes research with respect to FIDE international cooperation and to organising the World Chess Championship cycle. Opinion, research and recommendations may be specifically requested on other issues by the FIDE President or by the FIDE Council.2
Kramnik was appointed to the board in August 2022.3 He started his blog on Chess.com in October 2023. Although these events aren't directly linked, it’s important to consider the broader context.
What else could motivate Kramnik?
In a recent interview on April 3rd with the Russian site sport-express.ru, Zoya Arnatskaya, the manager of Ian Nepomniachtchi, revealed details about a new chess site project she is working on, which also involves Kramnik.
In the article, the site is introduced in the following way:
”A domestic analog of the chess platform Chess.com—myChess—was launched in Russia at the end of March. The project, which will allow Russian chess players to play online within their own ecosystem, is led by Ian Nepomniachtchi's manager, Zoya Arnatskaya. In an interview with "SE," she talks about the platform's extensive plans in anti-cheating (with the expertise of Vladimir Kramnik) and Nepomniachtchi's state before his third career Candidates Tournament.” (translated from Russian)4
Interestingly enough Kramnik is mentioned as a close collaborator for the anti-cheating work on the new site.
“— Regarding anti-cheating, did you consult with the main anti-cheating fighter in online chess, Vladimir Kramnik?
— We have a mathematical model, a reinforcement system, and comments from Vladimir Borisovich [Kramnik]. He is in close contact with our mathematicians and periodically gives them complex tasks. It is certainly pleasant when a world champion and a person who has delved into the nuances of online play shares his expertise with us and tells us what needs improvement.” (translated from Russian)5
So while Kramnik has been attacking Chess.com he has also been advising a new Russian chess site about anti-cheating measures.
Zoya Arnatskaya also mentions that they are in contact with FIDE and regional federations and that the target countries in the first go are the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates).
Let’s turn the table and look at this from a Russian perspective.
It seems clear that Russia has a firm grip on FIDE with Arkady Dvorkovich as FIDE president. However, Chess.com has taken over global dominance of the online chess world since the merger and takeover of the Play Magnus Group by the end of 2022.6
The online tournament boom following COVID significantly increased Chess.com's influence, as a larger share of the global tournament economy and viewership shifted online.
Meanwhile, Russia isn't producing as many new talented chess players as it used to. India is likely to become the future No. 1 country in terms of playing strength very soon, if it hasn't already, which presents another challenge for the former leading chess nation.
In 2022 Nepomniachtchi and partners bought the World Chess Club in Moscow from World Chess—a company I have earlier written about:
The vision is to develop chess in Russia and to create a concept of a chess ecosystem that includes a chess school and a grandmaster school for young talents.7
In the earlier interview cited, Zoya Arnatskaya also mentions the vision of creating a Russian chess ecosystem. Nepomniachtchi is like Kramnik, though more subtle, hinting that there is a cheating problem in Title Tuesdays on Chess.com.
Kramnik’s actions therefore may not only be interpreted as a lone crusader but in the context of an agenda to create a Russian chess ecosystem as an alternative to Chess.com.
In this context, it is less important that the statistics presented live up to scientific methods, as long as you put doubts into the heads of the players and viewers you have already succeeded.
By casting suspicions on Chess.com's methods, Kramnik undermines the confidence in the platform, thus advancing the strategic goals of those who wish that Chess.com doesn’t gain more power.
Is there only one Russian agenda?
Below you can see an old photo from 5 years ago, before the invasion of Ukraine, from Nepomniachtchi’s Instagram account. In the photo, we have Putin, Karjakin, and Kramnik all lined up. Nepomnachtchi, I think, is somewhere in the back. The invasion of Ukraine created a divide between the Russian chess elite.
While Nepomnachtchi signed an open letter with a call to stop the war, Kramnik was not one of the chess players to place a signature.8 Later, in 2023, Kramnik gave an interview to Chessbase where he explained his view. He stated:
I will express my views on this tragic situation WHEN I decide to do so, but only after this empty vanity fair and witch hunt, which I must admit makes me quite angry, has ended. That is my main human position.9
Kramnik’s statement was vague and filled with empty words. In contrast, Karjakin has been an outspoken supporter of the war, even receiving a 6-month ban from FIDE for his political activities. Understanding the real agenda of the Russian chess elite is difficult for outsiders, as there are likely various factions with different visions for chess.
Final thoughts.
Kramnik’s campaign against Chess.com is mainly described and seen as a personal vendetta. But it can also be seen, as presented in this post, as a strategic move within a broader political context. By questioning the integrity of Chess.com, he might be advancing a vision that aligns with pro-Russian goals in the chess world. It therefore remains crucial to critically question Kramnik's motives.
What do you think about Kramnik's accusations and the potential motives behind them?
/Martin
Great article. Russia (Soviet Union) has been motivated to dominate chess as means of achieving soft power. Globally chess is a very popular sport, with emphasis on sport. Now, that Russia has returned fully to autocracy, corrupt and cult of personality, articles like this are more important than ever. Chesscom is an American project and now has European partners after absorbing PlayMagnus so it seems inevitable that it would be attacked by Putin. While I have problems with the opaque nature of chesscom's anti-cheating and would love to see competitors, certainly Russian monsters aren't the answer.
A very insightful article, now I see this whole story with Kramnik and Nepo with different eyes. Thanks, Martin!