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
46%
Avg. rating
2520

Round 13 · 14 Apr 2026

Zhu — Goryachkina

The Matchup

White
Jiner ZhuCredit
🇨🇳CHN
1st · 7.0

Jiner Zhu

2542 Performance

Last 5 gamesWWL½W
World#2FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2578Age23

China's top-seeded grandmaster and former girl's world champion, valued for imaginative opening play and the initiative to stir complications against elite opponents.

Games in this event →
0–1Black wins
Black
Aleksandra GoryachkinaCredit
🇫🇯FID
3rd · 5.5

Aleksandra Goryachkina

2495 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 gamesL½WL½
World#7FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2534Age27

Two-time Candidates finalist and former women's world championship challenger, prized for deep preparation, relentless endgame technique, and grinding classical pressure.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 7: 1/2-1/2 · Ruy Lopez: Open. Read the annotated game →

Classical over-the-board (indexed)

Lifetime FIDE classical score unavailable (missing FIDE ID or cache not warmed).

Scroll to see the game

Key Moments

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening
BlackGoryachkinaFID2534
WhiteZhuCHN2578
B
-0.1W

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.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bg4c8g4
+3.240%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD0% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Board structure

Immediate impact

Be7 is active

Critical reply

Bc3Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Bc5e7c5
+3.570%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD0% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking

Immediate impact

Bc5 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Bc3Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Black has holes on a7, a8, b7, b8