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 4 · 1 Apr 2026

Esipenko — Giri

The Matchup

White
Andrey EsipenkoCredit
🇷🇺RUS
8th · 4.5

Andrey Esipenko

5.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½LL
Elo2698

A direct, tactical Russian grandmaster with a gift for turning small opening edges into sharp, double-edged battles.

Games in this event →
0–1Black wins
Black
Anish GiriCredit
🇳🇱NED
2nd · 8.5

Anish Giri

1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½W
Elo2753

Dutch chess's perennial contender, valued for creative opening ideas, rapid adaptation, and razor-sharp theoretical preparation.

Games in this event →
Scroll to see the game

Key Moments

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
BlackGiriNED2753
+4
WhiteEsipenkoRUS2698
B
-3.9W

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

Qa7c5a7
-3.9816%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD16% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Rook on b1 uses the semi_open b-file

Critical reply

Qxa7+!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Check in the air: Rd1+Nc5 is active (king-zone pressure)
Qd4c5d4
-2.855%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD5% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Rxe6!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Attack with a tradeoff

Black gets the main benefit, but black's material balance worsens by 1.00 pawns.

Hard to spot

Qa3c5a3
-6.442%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD2% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Rook on b1 uses the semi_open b-file