Chess-playing legend who was the Classical World Chess Champion for each year between 2000 and 2006.
His endorsement by Garry Kasparov helped him make the Russian chess team despite not being a grandmaster.
He won three team gold medals and several individual medals at the Chess Olympiads.
He married Marie-Laure Germon on December 31, 2006.
He defeated Garry Kasparov in 2000, who many to this day consider to be the best chess player of all time.
