| “ | Yes, it is. Because I have anticipated every possible variation of counter-move. [...] For the simple reason that this is so obviously a trap. My reading of the British mentality is that they always treat a trap as a challenge. | „ |
| ~ Kronsteen after asked if his plan is fail-safe. |
| “ | Who is Bond compared with Kronsteen? | „ |
| ~ Kronsteen's last words. |
Tov Kronsteen (Russian: Тов Кронстин, Tov Kronstin; known only as Kronsteen in the novel) is a supporting antagonist in Ian Fleming's 1957 James Bond novel From Russia, with Love, and one of the two main antagonists (along with Rosa Klebb) in its 1963 film adaptation.
He is SPECTRE's Director of Planning, using his immense intellect to create many of the organization's schemes.
He was portrayed by the late Vladek Sheybal.
Biography[]
When first seen, Kronsteen is participating in a chess tournament. During the tournament he receives a message from SPECTRE, ordering him to arrive immediately. He wins the match with a single move, shakes hands with his opponent, then leaves the room.
He then visits a SPECTRE headquarter where he meets with Ernst Stavro Blofeld and Rosa Klebb, while the latter indirectly him for continuing his chess game instead of arriving immediately. Kronsteen then tells Blofeld that, as he was tasked, he created a plan to steal the Lektor from the Russians. He states that in order for his plan to work, they need a female member of the Russian Kryptograph Section in Turkey and the help of the Secret Service. Klebb is ordered to select the woman, in order to make the plan work.
After assuring Blofeld that he has anticipated every possible outcome, Kronsteen tells Blofeld that his plan also ensures revenge for the death of SPECTRE operative Julius No, because the agent used by the Secret Service to get the Lektor will be the same one who killed Dr No, James Bond. Blofeld tells Kronsteen to ensure that Bond's death will be particularly unpleasant and humiliating.
After Donald Grant's demise and the failure of the mission, Blofeld summons both Rosa Klebb and Kronsteen to his quarters, informing them of Grant's death and demanding an explanation for themselves. Kronsteen blames Klebb for choosing the wrong people for the job whereas Klebb says that Kronsteen's plan was the reason for the failure. Kronsteen smugly rebuts Klebb for suggesting his plan was flawed, claiming that Bond couldn't have been as much of a genius as he was. Blofeld summons Morzeny whilst rebutting Klebb for the failure. Morenzy then deploys a poison-tipped blade from his shoe and is seemingly set to stab Klebb with it, only to turn around and stab Kronsteen instead, to Klebb's surprise and Kronsteen's shock. As the venom makes its way through Kronsteen's body, Kronsteen falls onto Blofeld's desk, barely shaking his head in disbelief before collapsing onto the floor, dead. Blofeld then remarks that Kronsteen's demise lasted 12 seconds and that one day they have to create a faster working venom.
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