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

KeymerVachier-Lagrave

The Matchup

White
🇩🇪GER
1st · 2.0

Vincent Keymer

2779 Performance

Last 5 games½W½
World#4FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2759Age21

Germany's standard-bearer and fresh super-tournament winner, blending modern opening depth with patient technique and growing endgame confidence.

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
🇫🇷FRA
1st · 2.0

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

2834 Performance

Last 5 games½W½
World#22FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2717Age35

France's longtime super-GM and former world #2, famous for deep Sicilians, volcanic complications, and punishing preparation.

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


Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
BlackVachier-LagraveFRA2740
WhiteKeymerGER2767
+5
B
+4.4W

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

Qd7a4d7
+3.2723%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD23% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Rook on f1 uses the open f-file
Kh7Critical

Black king under attack

Black has holes on a7, a8, b7, b8
Nf4h3f4
+1.9618%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD18% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Nd4 is active
Nxf4!Critical

Allows concrete threats

Open file near the Black king: fNd4 is active

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Qa8+a4a8
+5.6031%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD31% would play this move

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

Threatening
Board structure
Rook on f1 uses the open f-file
Kh7Critical

Complex tradeoff

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

Hard to spot

Bxd4e3d4
+5.768%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD8% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Rook on f1 uses the open f-file
Ng5h3g5
+5.340%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD0% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Ng5 is active (king-zone pressure)