Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
24 Feb — 06 Mar 2026
Location
Prague, CZ
Field
10 players
Format
Round-robin
Time control
Classical
Rounds
9 · 9 played
Decisive
51%
Avg. rating
2710

Round 3 · 27 Feb 2026

Yakubboev — Niemann

The Matchup

White
Nodirbek YakubboevCredit
1st · 1.5

Nodirbek Yakubboev

2810 Performance

Last 5 gamesW½
World#38FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2691

Grandmaster rated 2689 on the FIDE classical list — a regular in top round-robins and match events.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Hans Moke NiemannCredit
🇺🇸USA
3rd · 0.5

Hans Moke Niemann

2627 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 games½L
World#17FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2725Age22

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

Games in this event →

Head to head

Classical over-the-board (indexed)

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

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Key Moments

King's Pawn Game
BlackNiemannUSA2725
WhiteYakubboev2689
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