Vladimir Kramnik Responds to Levon Aronian's Self-Assessment

Levon Aronian's recent reflections on his chess career have prompted a response from former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. In an interview, Aronian expressed that reaching the No. 2 ranking in the world was a significant achievement for him, despite never winning the classical World Championship.

Aronian, now 43, stated that he has no regrets about his career, emphasizing that he has never considered himself highly as a player. He described his ranking as a miracle, given his earlier chess knowledge. Kramnik, who held the classical world title from 2000 to 2007, acknowledged Aronian's talent but seemed amused by his claim of being better than many world champions in chess understanding.

Kramnik's remarks highlight the impressive nature of Aronian's career, which includes a peak rating of 2830 and two World Cup victories. Despite not holding the classical title, Aronian's contributions to chess, including helping Armenia secure three Chess Olympiad gold medals, are notable.