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 8 · 20 May 2026

Praggnanandhaa R — Vachier-Lagrave

The Matchup

White
Praggnanandhaa RCredit
🇮🇳IND
3rd · 3.5

Praggnanandhaa R

2746 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½½L
World#13FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2733Age20

India's young super-GM, combining deep calculation with fearless classical play and the tactical nerve that makes every armageddon tiebreak feel winnable.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Maxime Vachier-LagraveCredit
🇫🇷FRA
3rd · 3.5

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

2743 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 games½L½½½
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

Queen's Pawn Game
BlackVachier-LagraveFRA2740
WhiteRIND2735
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.

Nf3g1f3
+0.3750%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD50% would play this move

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

Immediate impact

Nc3b1c3
-0.0215%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD15% would play this move

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

Immediate impact

Critical reply

d5Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses piece activity

White controls e4, d5Black has holes on d7

Hard to spot

e4e2e4
+0.375%

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

Board structure

Immediate impact

More active pieces for White