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 11 · 31 May 2026

CarlsenFirouzja

The Matchup

White
🇳🇴NOR
6th · 4.5

Magnus Carlsen

2909 Performance · 5.5 behind leader

Last 5 gamesLALWL
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 →
1–0White wins
Black
🇫🇷FRA
1st · 10.0

Alireza Firouzja

3366 Performance

Last 5 gamesWWA½A
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 →

Head to head

Previous games in this event

Round 1: 1-0 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation. Read the annotated game →

Classical OTB (lifetime FIDE)

Carlsen WinsDrawsFirouzja Wins

Source: FIDE

Scroll to see the game

Key Moments


Ruy Lopez: Closed, Morphy Attack
BlackFirouzjaFRA2744
WhiteCarlsenNOR2841
+2
B
M+19W

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

Qf3+c3f3
+9.1520%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD20% would play this move

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

Move result
Black gained
White must solve / gained
More active pieces for BlackFewer concrete threats for Black
Kh6Critical

Complex tradeoff

Black gets the main benefit, but white's king faces more checks and king-zone pressure.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Qxc5c3c5
+6.6175%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD75% would play this move

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

Black gained
No longer: Needs defense on Pc5
White must solve / gained
7 checking resources
Qf6+!Critical

Complex tradeoff

Black gets the main benefit, but white's king faces more checks and king-zone pressure.

Qd3c3d3
+9.601%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD1% would play this move

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

Black gained
No longer: Needs defense on Pc5
7 checking resourcesMore active pieces for Black
Qf6+!Critical

Allows concrete threats

Black gets the main benefit, but white's king faces more checks and king-zone pressure.

Hard to spot

Ke8f7e8
+6.181%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD1% would play this move

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

Move result
Black gained
White must solve / gained