Aronian Appeals to Kramnik for Reconciliation Amid Defamation Lawsuit

In a deeply personal and public letter, Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian has appealed to his longtime friend and former World Champion, Vladimir Kramnik, seeking reconciliation following a defamation lawsuit filed by Kramnik that has reverberated throughout the chess world.

"Dear Vladimir Kramnik, forgive me for addressing you publicly," Aronian began, his message conveying not anger but profound respect and concern for the Russian chess legend.

This open letter emerges in the wake of Kramnik's civil defamation case filed in Geneva against Chess.com, the news outlet Chessdom, and Czech GM David Navara. Kramnik accuses them of defamation stemming from public disputes over alleged cheating in online chess.

Aronian's letter functions as both a heartfelt tribute and an attempt at intervention. He acknowledges Kramnik's significant influence on his own chess career, referring to him as one of his "chess parents" and attributing a substantial part of his chess understanding to the former World Champion.

He reflects upon Kramnik's renowned resilience, citing his victories against Garry Kasparov and Peter Leko, as well as the controversial "Toiletgate" match against Veselin Topalov, emphasizing his strength and spirit when confronted with adversity.

However, Aronian doesn't avoid addressing what he perceives as a worrying shift in Kramnik's recent behavior. "You are fighting your own demons," he writes, acknowledging the emotional burden of Kramnik's campaign against perceived widespread cheating in online chess.

The letter follows a period of unrest. Earlier this year, Kramnik suggested that Navara had cheated, leading Navara to publish a letter detailing the severe impact of these accusations on his mental well-being.

Kramnik responded by demanding either legal action or silence, ultimately initiating a lawsuit – a decision that has been met with criticism from many within the chess community.

Other Grandmasters, such as Pavel Eljanov, have voiced public support for Navara, with Eljanov stating, "David is one of the most honest people in chess," a sentiment echoed by many others.

Aronian concludes his plea with a call for unity: "We are a family... let us start from a fresh page." In a chess world that appears increasingly divided, his message is unambiguous – the chessboard might be black and white, but human relationships are far more nuanced, and reconciliation remains a possibility.