Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
03 May — 10 May 2026
Location
Warsaw, PL
Field
10 players
Format
Round-robin
Time control
Rapid and blitz
Rounds
27 · 27 played
Decisive
66%
Avg. rating
2732

Round 1 · 3 May 2026

Firouzja — Gukesh D

The Matchup

White
Alireza FirouzjaCredit
🇫🇷FRA
1st · 0.0

Alireza Firouzja

Last 5 games
World#6FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2796Age22

France's attacking spearhead and former world #2, known for razor-sharp preparation and uncompromising initiative in complex positions.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Gukesh DCredit
🇮🇳IND
1st · 0.0

Gukesh D

Last 5 games
World#10FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2682Age19

India's reigning world champion, combining lightning calculation with resolute classical play in the sport's highest-pressure moments.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Classical OTB (lifetime FIDE)

Firouzja WinsDrawsD Wins

Source: FIDE

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Key Moments

Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Alekhine Variation
BlackDIND2732
WhiteFirouzjaFRA2744
B
-0.2W

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.

Bd6b4d6
+0.8177%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD77% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
No longer: Needs defense on Bb4
Threatening

Immediate impact

Less active pieces for White

Critical reply

Qa5+!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Less active pieces for WhiteWhite controls d4, d5, e5
Be2f1e2
+0.175%

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

Threatening

Immediate impact

Bb4 is active (king-zone pressure)