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 RVachier-Lagrave

The Matchup

White
🇮🇳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
🇫🇷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).

Scroll to see the game

Key Moments


Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation
BlackVachier-LagraveFRA2740
WhiteRIND2735
B
+0.1W

Classical factors on this position

Hover to preview on the board · click to keep selected and read details.

Select a category to see details.

Checks, captures, and threats for the side to move

Hover to preview on the board · click to keep selected and read details.

Select a category to see details.

The Moves

Other lines considered

From the crossroads before this move — engine and player perspectives.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bc4f1c4
+0.3629%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD29% would play this move

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

Threatening
Bc4 is active (king-zone pressure)
Nf3g1f3
+0.2427%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD27% would play this move

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

Threatening
Be3c1e3
+0.2516%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD16% would play this move

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

Threatening

Hard to spot

Qa4+d1a4
+0.300%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD0% would play this move

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

Threatening
Board structure
More active pieces for White