Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
28 Mar — 16 Apr 2026
Location
Paphos, CY
Field
8 players
Format
Double round-robin
Time control
Classical
Rounds
14 · 14 played
Decisive
32%
Avg. rating
2749

Round 11 · 11 Apr 2026

Praggnanandhaa RBluebaum

The Matchup

White
🇮🇳IND
7th · 6.0

Praggnanandhaa R

4 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½½
Elo2741

India's young super-GM, combining deep calculation with fearless classical play and the tactical nerve that makes every armageddon tiebreak feel winnable.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
🇩🇪GER
6th · 6.0

Matthias Bluebaum

4 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½L
Elo2698

Germany's leading grandmaster, known for disciplined classical technique, subtle maneuvering, and patient endgame grinding.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 4: 1/2-1/2 · Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Meran Variation. Read the annotated game →

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Key Moments


Petrov's Defense: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation
BlackBluebaumGER2698
+1
WhiteRIND2741
B
+0.7W

Classical factors on this position

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Checks, captures, and threats for the side to move

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The Moves

Other lines considered

From the crossroads before this move — engine and player perspectives.

Tempting traps

Rd1a1d1
+0.3654%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD54% would play this move

The Maia model estimates how often 2200-rated players choose this move from this position.

Attacking
Threatening
Qb4Critical

Allows concrete threats

Piece eyes the king zone from e5

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bxf6g5f6
-0.685%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD5% would play this move

The Maia model estimates how often 2200-rated players choose this move from this position.

Attacking
Threatening
Bxf6!Critical

Complex tradeoff

Ba6 is active (king-zone pressure)Black has holes on a8, b7, b8, c7

White gets the main benefit, but white creates more concrete threats.

Hard to spot

Qf5f3f5
+1.792%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD2% would play this move

The Maia model estimates how often 2200-rated players choose this move from this position.

Threatening
Board structure
Ne5 is active (king-zone pressure)