‘I'll take LEGAL ACTION against EVERY Slanderer': Kramnik escalates chess feud after Aronian's emotional appeal

Indian Express

7 days ago

After Levon Aronian's emotional open letter urging Vladimir Kramnik to seek reconciliation through 'unity and proper, unbiased analysis,' the Russian chess legend has issued a fiery response with doubling down on his legal battles and condemning the chess world's 'hypocrisy.'
The 14th World Chess Champion, whom Aronian considers one of his 'chess parents,' launched a scathing critique: 'The modern chess world is mired in hypocrisy, duplicity, and has lost the most basic moral principles. In fact, we could even remove the word 'chess' from that sentence…,' said Kramnik.
Kramnik's stance comes amid his ongoing defamation lawsuit against Chess.com, Chessdom, and GM David Navara. This legal offensive directly contradicts Aronian's plea ('We are a family; we can't keep suing over questionable online analyses'), with Kramnik saying, 'I will take LEGAL ACTION against EVERY slanderer. I'll make them answer for their words and deeds if they refuse to understand any other language.'
The former world champion framed his actions as self-defence, citing decades of enduring 'dirty PR attacks and slander' and made clear he no longer intends to show restraint.
Allow me to also publicly address you (one of the few people in today's chess world for whom I still have respect and any desire to explain anything) and speak the truth 'to your face,' hoping to 'get through' to you.
The modern chess world is mired in hypocrisy, duplicity, and has lost the most basic moral principles. In fact, we could even remove the word 'chess' from that sentence…
You know the reason — it's as old as the world itself: 'the metal for which people kill,' and on which a certain well-known structure 'calls the shots' (you're one of the few remaining people in chess who would understand this reference without needing to visit [Chagdzhipiti]).
This entire choir of obedient orchestra members is ready to play whatever music they're told at the wave of a certain conductor's baton. That's their bread. 'Love comes and goes, but hunger is constant'…
And to drown out the (still troubling to some) inner voice of conscience, they convince themselves and each other of their 'moral righteousness,' ignoring reality and facts.
As one of the classics once said, 'The measure of a person is their ability to accept the truth.' Some ancient Greek also said something in his allegory of the cave, by the way. Though that was long ago, and who cares about him with his small number of 'followers' and modest financial success. Unlike, say, Levy Rozman, for example…
I've never cared for the opinion of the 'crowd' or the 'in-crowd,' because I know its worth. As do you, for that matter.
This 'opinion' is crafted by those who exploit those content to spend their whole lives in a cozy cave, all for financial gain. And without a doubt, they despise and mock their obedient 'flock' among themselves.
Reread The Grand Inquisitor — the genius understood everything back then and explained it to us all (for those capable of understanding).
You, Levon, understand perfectly well — as do many strong chess players (several of whom I've corresponded with) — the scale of cheating in modern online chess.
Левону алаверды :) pic.twitter.com/X5B5vrMhMS
— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) June 28, 2025
If you spent even a fraction of the time I've devoted to collecting and analyzing data, you'd immediately double your estimate. But even without that, you know (let's be honest, just between us) the true nature of some 'online talents' and their so-called successes (I rather liked that euphemism I saw online).
In my ethical framework, it's hard to imagine a more despicable theft than, say, dining with a friend, excusing yourself for a moment, and rifling through their coat pocket to steal a couple hundred bucks.
Yet this is exactly what's happening in chess regularly. And everyone watches calmly, pretending not to notice.
I couldn't care less how the 'chess world' perceives these scoundrels—who, to call a spade a spade, are pickpocketing their colleagues.
The 'Daddy' enabling this farce keeps organizing new tournaments, compensating, ensuring no one starves. He's generous, after all—we'll tolerate it. And if push comes to shove, we'll steal from someone's pocket ourselves; nearly everyone does it, so why not? Even the 'boss' turns a blind eye, even encourages it…
And if the 'boss' demands it, we'll even sign an angry, dishonest letter. Who dares name the thieves and villains aloud? They're our thieves and villains… Rules are rules: hands off our beloved 'Daddy.' As the classics say, 'Where else would I get my bread?'
Forgive me, dear sirs, but my conscience matters more than the 'opinion of the in-crowd.' I won't betray my principles for their favor.
Now, irony aside — facts, only facts. For years, nearly the entire chess world has silently watched what is, without exaggeration…
The large-scale mockery directed at me only grows more intense with each passing day.
It has now tripled in force as 'Daddy,' facing exposure, has sent his entire 'royal army' to defend their generous monarch.
Many, like the 'genius of home blitz' who plays for forty hours straight without any decline in quality, are clearly acting with full awareness.
Another 'genius,' Daddy's loyal friend and ally, follows the orders of his soul — and that soul commands him to commit any misdeed, insult anyone, and act rudely whenever financial interests are at stake. After all, they're all obedient boys. They'll swallow it…
And they'll even praise him publicly, shake his hand, and smile (while secretly despising him, of course). They know Daddy will cut them off from the trough quickly if they step out of line, so 'everything is under control.'
Some, like a certain Eastern European 'darling,' might even be sincere. In battle, all means are fair—shameless lying is acceptable, and when caught, playing the innocent victim is the next move. The conductor will support them, the orchestra will chime in as needed — gens una sumus…
Slander, vile insults, and blatant, provable lies flow like a river from the sweet lips of Daddy's lackeys and those eager to take their place 'in the sun' — pardon my French.
All this happens under the deafening silence of the 'highly moral lambs,' many of whom would even defend the slanderers just to please 'public opinion' — an opinion shaped by influencers sitting on Daddy's payroll.
I have too much dignity to play the victim, unlike many in the chess world, even though I have ten times more objective reasons to do so than anyone else.
Nor do I have the slightest desire to participate in this fake, hypocritical game where anything goes — slander, lies, stealing from colleagues — as long as you never speak the truth. Daddy doesn't like that… he might punish you.
And so, I will continue my efforts to change the chess world in accordance with my conscience and principles, no matter what anyone says.
I'm no stranger to being the target of dirty PR attacks, slander, and underhanded tactics – I faced similar smears twenty years ago. That experience gave me some immunity.
But from now on, I will take LEGAL ACTION against EVERY slanderer. I'll make them answer for their words and deeds if they refuse to understand any other language.
As we've seen in this ongoing saga, polite appeals for people to stop lying and scheming don't work. I will defend myself and my family no matter how many collective 'open letters' they publish in the style of 'haven't read it but condemn it.'
The time has come to expose 'Daddy' and his cronies. To rid the chess world of this infection.
Judging by everything, it won't be much longer now.
With respect and friendly regards,
Vladimir
(Note: This letter was translated from Russian to English; it might have a few inaccuracies)