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 9 · 5 Mar 2026

Maghsoodloo — Van Foreest

The Matchup

White
Parham MaghsoodlooCredit
4th · 4.0

Parham Maghsoodloo

2711 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½W½½½
World#29FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2708Age25

Grandmaster rated 2701 on the FIDE classical list — a regular in top round-robins and match events.

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
Jorden Van ForeestCredit
🇳🇱NED
2nd · 5.0

Jorden Van Foreest

2761 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 gamesWW½½L
World#19FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2705Age26

A Dutch champion with bold opening ideas and the competitive streak that thrives in the sharp atmosphere of Wijk aan Zee and Bucharest.

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

Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan
BlackForeestNED2705
+4
WhiteMaghsoodloo2701
B
+3.4W

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.

Tempting traps

Qb6b3b6
+0.7334%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD34% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending

Immediate impact

Nc5 is active

Critical reply

Rxd8+!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

White king is exposedNc4 is active
Nxe3c4e3
+5.2532%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD32% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
Needs defense on Bf1No longer: Needs defense on Rd2

Immediate impact

Ne3 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Rxd8+!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses the n on e3

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Rxd2d8d2
+0.6417%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD17% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
No longer: Needs defense on Rd2
Threatening

Immediate impact

Nc4 is active

Critical reply

Nxb3!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Piece eyes the king zone from e3Black controls d4, e4, d5, e5

Hard to spot

Ra8d8a8
+0.110%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD0% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
Board structure

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Nxb3!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Creates concrete threats

Black controls d4, e4, d5, e5Ne3 is active (king-zone pressure)
Rb8d8b8
+0.400%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD0% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
Board structure

Immediate impact

Nc5 is active

Critical reply

Nxb3!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Creates concrete threats

Ne3 is active (king-zone pressure)