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 8 · 7 Apr 2026

Giri — Praggnanandhaa R

The Matchup

White
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 →
1–0White wins
Black
Praggnanandhaa RCredit
🇮🇳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 →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 1: 1-0 · Sicilian Defense: Closed. Read the annotated game →

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Key Moments

Queen's Gambit Accepted
BlackRIND2741
WhiteGiriNED2753
B
+1.4W

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

Bd7a4d7
+1.3450%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD50% would play this move

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

What changed

Threatening

Critical reply

e6Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Black gets the main benefit, but white's king faces more checks and king-zone pressure.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bb5a4b5
+0.2617%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD17% would play this move

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

What changed

Defending
Threatening
Rc4c5c4
+0.459%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD9% would play this move

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

What changed

Threatening

Immediate impact