Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
25 May — 05 Jun 2026
Location
Oslo, NO
Field
6 players
Format
Round-robin + Armageddon tiebreak
Time control
Classical
Rounds
10 · 10 played
Decisive
50%
Avg. rating
2765

Round 1 · 26 May 2026

FirouzjaCarlsen

The Matchup

White
🇫🇷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.Elo2759Age22

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

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
🇳🇴NOR
1st · 0.0

Magnus Carlsen

Last 5 games
World#1FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2841Age35

The highest-rated player in history, famous for squeezing wins from level positions and making endgames feel inevitable.

Games in this event →

Head to head

Classical OTB (lifetime FIDE)

Firouzja WinsDrawsCarlsen Wins

Source: FIDE

Scroll to see the game

Key Moments


Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
BlackCarlsenNOR2841
WhiteFirouzjaFRA2744
B
+0.3W

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.

h3h2h3
+0.0213%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD13% would play this move

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

White gained
dxc5d4c5
-0.0911%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD11% would play this move

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

Move result
White gained
Black must solve / gained
Needs defense on Pc5
Bxc5!Critical

Loses material

Bc5 is active (king-zone pressure)White controls d4, e4, d5, e5

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

Hard to spot

Rc1a1c1
+0.031%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD1% would play this move

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

Threatening