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
+1.7W

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

h5h6h5
+1.8316%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD16% would play this move

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

Threatening
g5Critical

White king under attack

Qf7g6f7
+8.5112%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD12% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Qc8+!Critical

Allows concrete threats

More space for BlackMore active pieces for Black

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

Hard to spot

Qh5+g6h5
+0.450%

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
More active pieces for Black