Peter Leko

Peter Leko (Hungarian: Lékó Péter; Serbian: Петер Леко); born September 8, 1979 in Subotica, Yugoslavia) is a Hungarian chess grandmaster. He became the world's youngest grandmaster in 1994. A two-time World Championship Candidate, he challenged Vladimir Kramnik in the Classical World Chess Championship 2004 and drew the match 7–7, with Kramnik retaining the title.

Leko has achieved victories in many major chess tournaments, including the annual tournaments at Dortmund, Linares, Wijk aan Zee and the Tal Memorial in Moscow. He won two team silver medals and an individual gold medal representing Hungary at eight Chess Olympiads as well as team bronze and silver and an individual silver medal at three European Team Championships.

Leko has been ranked as high as fourth in the FIDE World Rankings, which he first achieved in April 2003. He is married to Sofia Petrosian, daughter of Armenian grandmaster Arshak Petrosian who is also Leko's trainer.

Early years

Peter Leko was born in the city of Subotica, Yugoslavia but moved to Szeged when he was one year old. He was taught chess by his father shortly before he turned seven and took part in tournaments from the age of nine. His first coach Tibor Karolyi began work with him in 1989, ending three months before Leko became a grandmaster. They later reunited in 1998 until the end of 2000. Leko also worked with International Master Gaspar Mathe when he was ten years old.