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 2 · 30 Mar 2026

Divya Deshmukh — Vaishali

The Matchup

White
Divya DeshmukhCredit
🇮🇳IND
1st · 0.5

Divya Deshmukh

2522 Performance

Last 5 games½
World#12FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2497Age20

India's Women's World Cup champion and fast-rising grandmaster, pairing fearless opening ambition with the tactical nerve to challenge the world's best.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Rameshbabu VaishaliCredit
🇮🇳IND
1st · 0.5

Rameshbabu Vaishali

2516 Performance

Last 5 games½
World#18FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2470Age24

India's 2026 Candidates winner and Praggnanandhaa's elder sister, combining sharp calculation with resolute classical play when the title path is on the line.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Classical over-the-board (indexed)

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

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Key Moments

Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation
BlackVaishaliIND2470
WhiteDeshmukhIND2505
+1
B
+0.3W

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

Qf4f3f4
+0.3058%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD58% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Skewers the knight on g5 with the pawn behind on h6
Defending
No longer: Needs defense on Qf3

Immediate impact

Nc5 is active (outpost)

Critical reply

Rxc5!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses the R on b7

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

Qd1f3d1
-1.4312%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD12% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
No longer: Needs defense on Qf3

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Rxc5!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses the h3 pawn

Less active pieces for WhiteWhite controls e4, d5

Hard to spot

Qg4f3g4
+2.345%

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
Skewers the knight on g5 with the pawn behind on g6
Defending
No longer: Needs defense on Qf3
Threatening
Board structure

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Qxg4!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Rook on a5 uses the semi_open a-fileWhite controls d5, e5