Ponomariov Ruslan (11.10.1983)

Ukrainian Grandmaster (1997). World Champion 2001-2004. Ukrainian Champion 2011.

At the age of 10, he won the World U12 Championship, and at the age of 12, won the European U18 Championship. At age 13, he won the World U18 Championship, and the following year he was awarded the Grandmaster title, setting a new record for the youngest Grandmaster (this record has since been beaten by Sergey Karjakin). In 2002 he defeated Vassily Ivanchuk in the FIDE knock-out World Championship to become the youngest World Chess Champion ever at the age of 18, but endless negotiations with FIDE did not let him play against Garry Kasparov under the terms of the Prague Agreement.
Other results: Kramatorsk 2001, 1^st; Golden Blitz 2005, 1^st; Pamplona 2005, 1^st; Odessa Rapid 2005, 1^st; Cuernavaca Young Masters 2006, 1^st-2nd; Tal Memorial (RUS), 3^rd; Carlsbad 2007, 1^st-2^nd; Vitoria Gasteiz 2007, 2^nd; Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup 2008, 1^st-4^th; San Sebastian 2009, 1^st-2^nd; World Cup 2009, losing the final match to Boris Gelfand; Dortmund 2010, 1^st.

In a match, he beat Oscar De la Riva 5-1 in 2000 then drew with Viktor Korchnoi 4-4 in 2001.
Co-leader with Vassily Ivanchuk of the national team which took the gold at the 2004 and 2010 Olympiads and at the World Team Championship in 2001.

Peak rating: 2764 in 2011.