Garry Kasparov vs Vladimir Kramnik, Botvinnik Memorial m, R4

Round 4 of the 2001 Botvinnik Memorial classical match (December 5) was a draw between Kasparov as White and Kramnik. The classical section featured the slowest time controls and produced the most strategically rich games of the Memorial’s four format sections.

The draw was a Closed Catalan, Kramnik’s signature 1.d4 system played from the Black side. Kasparov’s response was a Slav Defense with classical positional play. The middlegame featured small structural exchanges; the endgame was balanced; the draw was accepted in 42 moves.

The classical portion of the 2001 Botvinnik Memorial was the highest-quality non-World-Championship chess of the post-2000 period. Both players had retained their World Championship-level preparation; both invested significant time in pre-event analysis; both played at full tournament intensity despite the exhibition framing.

The Memorial’s structure — four sections (classical, rapid, blitz, 30’ rapid) — was unusual but worked well as a showcase event. Each section produced different chess; the cumulative score across sections was meaningful for the players’ relative standing. The format has been imitated occasionally in subsequent exhibitions but has not become a standard element of elite chess scheduling.

Game record

This game between Kasparov, Garry and Kramnik, Vladimir was played at the Botvinnik Memorial m in Moscow in 2001. Played in round 4. At the time of the game, the players were rated 2838 (White) and 2802 (Black). The game lasted 19 moves, ending with a drawn outcome. It is part of the early engine era.

Opening context

The opening sequence runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6, after which the players entered the middlegame proper.

See also

For more on this game’s protagonists and theory, see Kasparov, Garry and Kramnik, Vladimir.

Match notes

This Botvinnik Memorial m game sits in engine-era transition. Master-level chess of the period was published in tournament bulletins, magazine annotations, and — for the most-studied games — in published opening monographs by the participants and their successors. This game is preserved in the open historical record and can be replayed in full above.