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 21 · 9 May 2026

Vachier-Lagrave — Caruana

The Matchup

White
Maxime Vachier-LagraveCredit
🇫🇷FRA
5th · 10.0

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

2734 Performance · 2 behind leader

Last 5 games½WLW½
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
Fabiano CaruanaCredit
🇺🇸USA
3rd · 11.0

Fabiano Caruana

2754 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 gamesLW½L½
World#3FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2749Age33

A principled calculator with world-championship match experience, known for deep opening preparation and clean technical pressure.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 12: 1-0 · Réti Opening: Advance Variation, Michel Gambit. 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

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