Peter Leko

Peter Leko is a Hungarian professional chess player, born on September 8, 1979, in Subotica, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. Leko started his professional career at a young age and became the youngest grandmaster in the world in 1994.

Leko is known for his incredible strategic understanding, endgame technique, and versatility. He has won numerous individual awards and holds multiple records, such as being the first Hungarian player to compete for the World Chess Championship.

Off the board, Leko is also recognized for his contributions to chess commentary and education, inspiring chess enthusiasts worldwide.

Youth and Early Career

• Peter Leko was born and raised in Subotica and learned chess at the age of seven. He became the youngest grandmaster in the world in 1994.

Professional Career

• Early Success: Leko achieved significant success early in his career, winning a number of prestigious tournaments, including the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting in 1999 and 2002.
• World Chess Championship: In 2004, Leko competed in the Classical World Chess Championship against Vladimir Kramnik. He narrowly missed out on the title, with the match ending in a tie and Kramnik retaining his title due to champion's privilege.
• After his World Championship match, Leko continued to perform at a high level, winning several more major tournaments and maintaining a place amongst the world's elite players.

Hungary National Team

• Debut: Made his debut for Hungary in 1994.

Achievements:

• Olympiad: Leko has represented Hungary in numerous Chess Olympiads, helping the team to achieve several top finishes.
• European Team Championship: Leko has also represented Hungary in the European Team Chess Championship, contributing to the team's success in this competition.

• Style: Known for his deep strategic understanding, precise calculation, and strong endgame play. Leko is celebrated for his versatility, positional understanding, and defensive skills.

• Family: Leko is married to Sofia Petrosian, the Armenian Women's Chess Champion. They have one daughter.
• Commentary and Education: Besides his own professional play, Leko also contributes to the chess community through his insightful commentary in major chess events and his work in chess education.

• Peter Leko is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous achievements but also for his sportsmanship, dedication, and longevity in professional chess. His impact on the game and his status as an icon extend beyond the chessboard, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Youngest Grandmaster:

• Became the youngest grandmaster in the world in 1994 at the age of 14.

World Chess Championship:

• First Hungarian player to compete for the World Chess Championship in 2004.

Major Tournament Wins:

• Winner of numerous major tournaments, including the Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting and the Corus Chess Tournament.

Books

• Leko, P. (2000) My Secrets in the Ruy Lopez. ChessBase.

Websites

• FIDE: Information about Peter Leko’s career and achievements. Available at: https://www.fide.com
• Chess.com: Details about Leko’s career and games. Available at: https://www.chess.com

Articles

• ChessBase: Peter Leko’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://en.chessbase.com

Interviews and Documentaries

• Chess24 Interviews: Various interviews and features on Peter Leko, covering different aspects of his career. Available at: https://www.chess24.com