Kritz, Leonid (born December 15, 1983) is a Russian-German chess grandmaster, a title he received in 2004. Born in Moscow, Russia, his family moved to Germany when he was three. Kritz began playing chess when he was five, following in the footsteps of his grandfather.
His early achievements in chess drew attention. At age 15, he emerged as the champion of European Championships for Under-16. In 2002, he became the runner-up at the Under-20 World Chess Championship. He was also named the German Chess Champion the same year, and in 2004, became an International Chess Grandmaster.
In addition to his tournament successes, Kritz is also an accomplished chess author. He has written several books and articles, and since 2000, he has been a regular contributor to the German chess magazine 'Schach.' He has also developed several training CDs focused on specific aspects of the game.
Kritz's career in chess has also involved him taking up coaching duties and becoming a professional lecturer on chess. In 2006, he began studying at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) on a chess scholarship and in 2008, Kritz moved to the United States. He attended Stanford University and graduated with a Master's degree in Finance.
Kritz gained worldwide prominence when he won the B-Group at the Aeroflot Open in Moscow in 2008, drawing in the attention of the international chess fraternity.