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 9 · 21 May 2026

Vachier-Lagrave — Caruana

The Matchup

White
Maxime Vachier-LagraveCredit
🇫🇷FRA
3rd · 4.0

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

2742 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 gamesL½½½½
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 →
½–½Draw
Black
Fabiano CaruanaCredit
🇺🇸USA
1st · 5.0

Fabiano Caruana

2792 Performance

Last 5 gamesW½½W½
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 →

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

King's Pawn Game
BlackCaruanaUSA2803
WhiteVachier-LagraveFRA2740
B
+0.4W

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
+0.3550%

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
-0.1215%

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

d4d2d4
+0.406%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD6% 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