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 6 · 18 May 2026

Caruana — Sindarov

The Matchup

White
Fabiano CaruanaCredit
🇺🇸USA
2nd · 3.0

Fabiano Caruana

2773 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½W½
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 →
½–½Draw
Black
Javokhir SindarovCredit
🇺🇿UZB
4th · 2.0

Javokhir Sindarov

2685 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½L½½½
World#12FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2776Age20

A young Uzbek grandmaster with sharp opening confidence and a direct, resourceful approach to dynamic 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

Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6
BlackSindarovUZB2726
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.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bxf2+b6f2
+3.600%

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
Defending
Threatening
Board structure

Immediate impact

Bf2 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Kxf2!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses material

Black gets the main benefit, but black creates more concrete threats.