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 2 · 3 May 2026

Vachier-LagraveFirouzja

The Matchup

White
🇫🇷FRA
3rd · 0.0

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

2549 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 gamesL
World#22FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2761Age35

France's longtime super-GM and former world #2, famous for deep Sicilians, volcanic complications, and punishing preparation.

Games in this event →
0–1Black wins
Black
🇫🇷FRA
2nd · 0.5

Alireza Firouzja

2682 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½
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 →

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


Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Polugaevsky Variation
BlackFirouzjaFRA2744
WhiteVachier-LagraveFRA2740
B
-0.8W

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

Bb1d3b1
-0.5026%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD26% would play this move

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

Attacking
Rd7Critical

Balanced endpoint

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bc2d3c2
-0.4813%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD13% would play this move

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

Attacking
Rd7Critical

Balanced endpoint

Be2d3e2
-0.5111%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD11% would play this move

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

Attacking
Rd7Critical

Balanced endpoint

Hard to spot

Ncd2c4d2
+0.019%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD9% would play this move

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

Attacking
Less active pieces for White
Bf7Critical

Balanced endpoint

Rfe1f1e1
-0.248%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD8% would play this move

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

Threatening
e5e4e5
-0.261%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD1% would play this move

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

Attacking