Topalov

Bulgarian player Veselin Topalov won the International Chess Federation's 2005 World Championship in San Luis, Argentina. The eight-player event had every competitor face each opponent twice. Topalov began with 6.5 points from seven games and secured the title with one round remaining.

That achievement requires an explanation of the split world title. From 1993 to 2006, two rival championship lines existed: one organized by the International Chess Federation and another descended from the title match Garry Kasparov had played outside that organization. Topalov held the first title. In 2006 he faced Vladimir Kramnik in the reunification match for the World Championship and lost in the tiebreak.

Topalov approached the crown again after defeating Gata Kamsky in the 2009 Candidates match. That result earned him a 2010 challenge against Viswanathan Anand, who won 6.5 to 5.5 by deciding the final game. Topalov's career therefore connects the split-title period with the reunified championship cycle.