BrainGames World Champion Vladimir Kramnik has pulled out of the Corus 2006 tournament being held at Wijk aan Zee, citing illness. This comes on the back of a poor performance in the Russian Superfinal, held during December 2005. The Washington Times reports:
The 30-year-old Kramnik has pulled out of the Category 19 Corus Tournament that starts today in Wijk aan Zee, Holland, the first elite event of 2006. In a statement last week, he revealed he is taking an extended break from competition to obtain treatment for a severe form of arthritis.