Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
12 May — 24 May 2026
Location
Bucharest, RO
Field
10 players
Format
Round-robin
Time control
Classical
Rounds
9 · 9 played
Decisive
36%
Avg. rating
2744

Round 4 · 16 May 2026

Caruana — Firouzja

The Matchup

White
Fabiano CaruanaCredit
🇺🇸USA
2nd · 1.5

Fabiano Caruana

2752 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½
World#3FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2788Age33

A principled calculator with world-championship match experience, known for deep opening preparation and clean technical pressure.

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
Alireza FirouzjaCredit
🇫🇷FRA
4th · 0.5

Alireza Firouzja

2606 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½LL
World#6FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2759Age22

France's attacking spearhead and former world #2, known for razor-sharp preparation and uncompromising initiative in complex positions.

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

Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Schallopp Defense
BlackFirouzjaFRA2744
WhiteCaruanaUSA2803
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

Ne4c3e4
+0.3818%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD18% 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 c1 uses the semi_open c-file

Critical reply

cxd4!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses material

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

Bxh5e2h5
-0.5217%

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

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

dxc5d4c5
+1.4138%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD38% 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