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 6 · 2 Mar 2026

NiemannKeymer

The Matchup

White
🇺🇸USA
6th · 1.5

Hans Moke Niemann

2632 Performance · 2.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½L½½L
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 →
½–½Draw
Black
🇩🇪GER
5th · 2.0

Vincent Keymer

2658 Performance · 2 behind leader

Last 5 gamesL½½WL
World#4FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2776Age21

Germany's standard-bearer and fresh super-tournament winner, blending modern opening depth with patient technique and growing endgame confidence.

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


Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a5
BlackKeymerGER2767
WhiteNiemannUSA2725
B
-0.9W

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

c4c3c4
-0.8330%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD30% would play this move

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

Attacking
Board structure
Bd4Critical

Allows concrete threats

Black king is exposedBlack claims an outpost on d4

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bd1f3d1
+0.2214%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD14% would play this move

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

Threatening

Hard to spot

Bd2c1d2
+0.155%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD5% would play this move

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

Threatening
b5b4b5
-0.036%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD6% would play this move

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

Attacking
Defending
Needs defense on qc6