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 20 · 9 May 2026

So — Vachier-Lagrave

The Matchup

White
Wesley SoCredit
🇺🇸USA
1st · 11.0

Wesley So

2758 Performance

Last 5 games½LL½W
World#9FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2798Age32

A U.S. legend and endgame specialist, valued for immaculate technique, calm defense, and elite practical steadiness under sustained pressure.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Maxime Vachier-LagraveCredit
🇫🇷FRA
3rd · 9.5

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

2731 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½WLW
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 →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 11: 1/2-1/2 · Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, l'Hermet Variation. Read the annotated game →

Classical over-the-board (indexed)

Lifetime FIDE classical score unavailable (missing FIDE ID or cache not warmed).

Scroll to see the game

Key Moments

Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Modern Exchange Variation
BlackVachier-LagraveFRA2740
+7
WhiteSoUSA2753
B
+0.0W

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

Rxg6+g7g6
-6.3226%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD26% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
Board structure

Immediate impact

Bd4 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Rxd4!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses the R on g6

White gets the main benefit, but white creates more concrete threats.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Rxa7+g7a7
-0.1027%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD27% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
Board structure

Immediate impact

Bd4 is active (king-zone pressure)