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).

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Key Moments


Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation
BlackVachier-LagraveFRA2740
WhiteRIND2735
+1
B
+1.8W

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

Qe1+d1e1
+4.3375%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD75% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Fewer concrete threats for BlackMore active pieces for Black
Kd4!Critical

Allows concrete threats

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

Qc1+d1c1
+5.4915%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD15% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Fewer concrete threats for BlackMore active pieces for Black
Kd4!Critical

White king under attack

Black gets the main benefit, but black's pieces lose activity.

Hard to spot

Qg1+d1g1
+0.002%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD2% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
More active pieces for Black