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
+2
B
+3.1W

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.

Tempting traps

Qc5c8c5
+2.8013%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD13% 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

Qe8c8e8
+1.9610%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD10% would play this move

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

What changed

Threatening

Immediate impact

Hard to spot

Ba6d3a6
+4.020%

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

Threatening

Immediate impact

Ba3 is active
Nd2b1d2
+3.550%

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

Threatening

Immediate impact

Ba3 is active