Veselin Topalov

The fiery Bulgarian grandmaster, Veselin Topalov, was FIDE World Champion from 2005-2006 and reached the pinnacle of the rating list in 2006. Known for his ultra-aggressive, risk-taking style, he was a dominant tournament force in the mid-2000s, winning events like the 2005 FIDE World Championship tournament and the 2006 M-Tel Masters. His 2006 unification match against Vladimir Kramnik was historic and highly controversial. Topalov's relentless fighting spirit and willingness to unbalance any position made him one of the most feared competitors of his generation.