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Peter Leko facts for kids

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The native form of this personal name is Lékó Péter. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
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Peter Leko
Peter Leko 2025 (cropped).jpg
Leko in 2025
Country Hungary
Born (1979-09-08) September 8, 1979 (age 45)
Subotica, Vojvodina, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Title Grandmaster (1994)
FIDE rating 2663 (June 2025)
Peak rating 2763 (April 2005)
Peak ranking No. 4 (April 2003)

Peter Leko (born September 8, 1979) is a famous Hungarian chess player. He is a Grandmaster, which is the highest title a chess player can get. In 1994, he became the youngest Grandmaster in the world at that time!

Peter Leko almost became the World Chess Champion in 2004. His match against Vladimir Kramnik ended in a 7-7 tie, so Kramnik kept his title. Peter also did very well in other World Chess Championships, finishing fifth in 2005 and fourth in 2007.

He has won many big chess tournaments, like those in Dortmund, Linares, Wijk aan Zee, and the Tal Memorial in Moscow. He has also won medals for Hungary in team events like the Chess Olympiads and European Team Championships. Peter Leko has been ranked as high as fourth in the world by FIDE, the international chess organization.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Early Years in Chess

Peter Leko was born in Subotica, Yugoslavia, but his family moved to Szeged, Hungary, when he was one year old. His father taught him how to play chess just before Peter turned seven. He started playing in tournaments when he was nine.

His first coach, Tibor Károlyi, worked with him from 1989 until Peter became a Grandmaster. They worked together again later from 1998 to 2000. Peter also learned from International Master Gaspar Mathe when he was ten.

Leko Tihonov 1992 Duisburg
Leko playing chess in 1992.

As a young player, Peter Leko competed in the World Youth Chess Championship. He won a bronze medal in the under-10 group in 1989 and another bronze in the under-12 group in 1990. He also won a silver medal in the under-14 group in 1993 and a gold medal in the under-16 group in 1994.

Peter became an International Master in 1992. Then, in 1994, he earned the Grandmaster title. He was 14 years, 4 months, and 22 days old, making him the youngest Grandmaster at that time. He broke the record held by another famous Hungarian player, Judit Polgár.

Becoming a Top Player

Peter Leko showed how good he was by winning a tournament in Copenhagen in 1995. Soon after, he played in Dortmund and finished third. This helped him get a world ranking of 55th.

Leko Maric Karpow 1999 Dortmund
Peter Leko (left) analyzing a game with Anatoly Karpov (right) in Dortmund, 1999.

In 1997, Leko won tournaments in Cienfuegos and Yopal. He also took fourth place at the Tilburg chess tournament. These results showed he was a rising star. By January 1998, he was ranked 16th in the world.

Leko continued to improve. In 1998, he finished second behind Viswanathan Anand in Tilburg. In 1999, he won his first big tournament in Dortmund, finishing ahead of Vladimir Kramnik. It was at this tournament that he met his future wife, Sofia.

He first played in a World Championship tournament in 1999 in Las Vegas. He won his first match but then lost in the next round. In January 2000, Leko played a match against the FIDE World Champion, Alexander Khalifman, and won it 4½-1½.

Leko kept playing well in 2000. He finished second at the Corus tournament behind Garry Kasparov. He also shared second place with Kramnik in Dortmund. In the FIDE World Chess Championship 2000, he was knocked out in the third round.

In 2001, Leko had good results in several tournaments. He also won an eight-game match against Michael Adams in a special type of chess called Chess 960. The year ended with an early exit from the FIDE World Chess Championship 2002.

Leko started 2002 strongly. He finished sixth at Corus and second at Essen.

Challenging for the World Title

In 2002, Peter Leko won the Dortmund Chess Meeting. This victory meant he would challenge Vladimir Kramnik for the Classical World Chess Championship 2004. This was a very important moment in his career.

After winning in Dortmund, Leko led the Hungarian team to a silver medal at the 35th Chess Olympiad. He played very well and did not lose any games. In early 2003, he shared first place with Kramnik at Linares, finishing ahead of Anand and Kasparov. This was a big achievement, as it ended Kasparov's streak of winning ten major tournaments in a row.

World Championship Match

The Classical World Chess Championship 2004 match between Peter Leko and Vladimir Kramnik took place in Brissago, Switzerland. Leko had a team of strong chess players helping him prepare.

The match had many draws. Leko lost the first game but then managed to tie the score in Game 5. He played very well to win a difficult endgame. The first half of the match ended with a 3½-3½ tie.

Kramnik–Leko, Game Eight


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8 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 8
7 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn 7
6 {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black knight {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 6
5 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king 5
4 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 4
3 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king 3
2 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white knight {{{square}}} black bishop {{{square}}} white king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn 2
1 {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 1
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Kramnik's preparation was refuted by Leko's sacrificial combination 26...Bxf3 27.Nxf3 Ne4+ 28.Ke1 Nxc3 29.bxc3 Qxc3+ 30.Kf2 Qxa1 31.a7 h6 32.h4 g4 White Resigns 0-1

In Game 8, Leko won an important game and took the lead for the first time. He used a risky but powerful opening called the Marshall Attack. Kramnik had prepared for it, but Leko found a way to win by sacrificing some pieces.

The match continued with more draws. In the final game, Leko only needed a draw to become World Champion. However, Kramnik played a very strong game and managed to win. The match ended in a 7-7 tie. Because Kramnik was the defending champion, he kept his title. Peter Leko became the vice-champion.

Career After the Championship

Even though the match was a draw, Leko continued to play at a very high level in 2005. He won the Corus tournament and finished fourth at Linares. He also played in the FIDE World Chess Championship 2005 in Argentina, finishing fifth.

In 2006, Leko had good results in several tournaments. He also won a rapid chess match against Anatoly Karpov. He shared first place at the first Tal Memorial tournament. This win meant he had won all the major tournaments: Dortmund, Linares, Corus, and Tal Memorial.

In 2007, Leko qualified for the World Chess Championship 2007 by winning his matches against Mikhail Gurevich and Evgeny Bareev. He finished fourth in the championship tournament in Mexico City. He also won the ACP World Rapid Chess Cup.

Peter Leko 2009
Peter Leko in 2009.

In 2008, Leko tied for fifth place at Corus. He won his third Dortmund tournament and secured an individual gold medal on board 1 at the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden.

Leko also played in the FIDE Grand Prix 2008-2010 series, which helps choose players for the World Championship. He finished seventh overall. In 2009, he tied for second place in a strong Dortmund tournament.

After a break from chess, Leko returned in 2011. He played well in the World Team Chess Championship and the European Team Championships.

Naiditsch-Leko 2012 Dortmund
Peter Leko (right) playing against Arkadij Naiditsch in Dortmund, 2012.

In 2012, Leko finished second at the Sigeman & Co Tournament. He also shared third place at Dortmund and played for Hungary in the 40th Chess Olympiad. He continued to play in the FIDE Grand Prix series in 2012-2013.

In 2013, Leko finished fifth at the Tata Steel Chess event. He also helped his team get third place at the European Chess Club Cup. In 2014, he helped Hungary win a team silver medal at the 41st Chess Olympiad.

In August 2015, he played a match against Chinese Grandmaster Li Chao in Hungary, which he lost. Since November 2017, Peter Leko has been coaching the talented German chess player Vincent Keymer.

Team Chess Achievements

Peter Leko first played for Hungary at the 31st Chess Olympiad when he was 15. He has played in eight Chess Olympiads in total, winning two team silver medals and one individual gold medal.

Olympiad Individual result Team result
Moscow 1994 6½/10 (11th) 8th
Yerevan 1996 7/12 (33rd) 18th
Istanbul 2000 7½/12 (20th) 4th
Bled 2002 6/11 (48th) Silver
Dresden 2008 7½/10 (Gold) 8th
Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 4½/10 (23rd) 4th
Istanbul 2012 5½/10 (17th) 9th
Tromso 2014 5/10 Silver

Leko has also played in many Team Chess Championships, both at the World and European levels. He first played in a European Team Championship in 1992 when he was only 13 years old.

Event Individual result Team result
10th ETCC, Debrecen 1992 5/9 (13th) 5th
12th ETCC, Batumi 1999 6/9 (Silver) Silver
5th WTCC, Yerevan 2001 3/7 (7th) 5th
18th ETCC, Halkidiki 2011 5½/9 (10th) Bronze
8th WTCC, Ningbo 2011 5½/9 (5th) 5th

Peter Leko's Chess Style

Peter Leko is known for playing chess in a very solid and careful way. He tries to avoid taking big risks. He once said that he likes to play in a "clean and clear" way and believes more in the logic of the game than in gambling.

Some people say his style can lead to many drawn games. However, his consistent and careful approach has helped him stay among the top chess players since he was a teenager. It has also helped him win many important tournaments.

Anand–Leko, 2005


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8 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 8
7 {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} black bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black rook {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black bishop {{{square}}} black pawn 7
6 {{{square}}} white bishop {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 6
5 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 5
4 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white knight {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 4
3 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king 3
2 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} white pawn {{{square}}} white pawn 2
1 {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white queen {{{square}}} black king {{{square}}} white rook {{{square}}} white king {{{square}}} black king 1
Solid white.svg a b c d e f g h Solid white.svg
Leko (Black) found a strong move (26...Bxg2!) to win after Anand's mistake.

Peter Leko is also very good at the opening part of a chess game. Because of his deep understanding of openings, he has helped other top players prepare for their World Championship matches. For example, he helped Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik.

Example Game

Here is an example of a game where Peter Leko (playing with the black pieces) defeated Viswanathan Anand in 2005. This win helped Leko win the Corus chess tournament.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 0-0 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. 0-0 Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 d5 21. Ra6 f4 22. Nc2 Bc8 23. Ra8 Qd6 24. Nb4 Bb7 25. Ra7 d4 26. Ba6? (see diagram)

Leko found a winning move here!

26... Bxg2! 27. Bc4+ Kh8 28. Ra6 Qc5 29. Kxg2 f3+ 30. Kh1 Qxc4 31. Rc6 Qb5 32. Rd6 e4 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. Qxd4+ Qe5 35. Qxe5+ Rxe5 36. Nc2 Rb8 37. Ne3 Rc5 38. h3 Rxb2 39. c4 Rg5 40. Kh2 Kg8 41. h4 Rg6 42. Kh3 Kf7 43. Nf5 Rc2 44. Ne3 Rd2 45. c5 Ke6 46. c6 Rg8 47. c7 Rc8 48. Kg3 Rxc7 49. Kf4 Rd4 50. Ra1 Rf7+ 51. Kg3 Rd8 52. Ra6+ Ke5 53. Ng4+ Kd5 54. Nf6+ Rxf6 55. Rxf6 Ke5 56. Rh6 Rg8+ 57. Kh3 e3 0–1

Personal Life

Peter Leko is married to Sofia Petrosian. Her father, Arshak Petrosian, is also a Grandmaster from Armenia and is Peter's chess trainer. Peter Leko is a vegetarian.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Péter Lékó para niños

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