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

Grand Chess Tour
Super Rapid & Blitz Poland

The Grand Chess Tour 2026 is a series of chess tournaments, which is the eleventh edition of the Grand Chess Tour. It consists of six tournaments with a total prize pool of US$2 million, including two tournaments with classical time control and three tournaments with faster time controls, as well as the GCT Finals in St. Louis.

From Wikipedia — Grand Chess Tour 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

§ 01 · 10 players

The Players

Avg. rating · 2732

Runner-up

Runner-up
🇺🇸USA
2nd · 16.0

Hans Moke Niemann

Prize$40,000

2773 Performance

Last 5 gamesW½LWW
World#17FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2699Age22

A young American grandmaster with fearless initiative, sharp opening research, and the competitive nerve to punch above his rating in elite fields.

27 games in this event →

Winner

Winner
🇺🇸USA
1st · 17.5

Fabiano Caruana

Prize$50,000

2790 Performance

Last 5 gamesWWW½W
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.

27 games in this event →

Bronze

Bronze
🇺🇸USA
3rd · 15.0

Wesley So

Prize$30,000

2747 Performance

Last 5 games½WL½W
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.

27 games in this event →

§ 02 · Round timeline

Firouzja’s games

§ · Player lens

🇫🇷FRA
4th · 14.5

Alireza Firouzja

2740 Performance

Last 5 gamesL½W½W
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.

27 games in this event →