Elite chess explained, move by move
Dates
17 Jan — 28 Jan 2026
Location
Wijk aan Zee, NL
Field
14 players
Format
Round-robin
Time control
Classical
Rounds
13 · 13 played
Decisive
45%
Avg. rating
2725

Round 1 · 18 Jan 2026

Erigaisi Arjun — Praggnanandhaa R

The Matchup

White
Erigaisi ArjunCredit
🇮🇳IND
1st · 0.0

Erigaisi Arjun

Last 5 games
World#11FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2775Age22

One of India's fastest-rising super-GMs, known for razor-sharp opening play and the initiative to keep even the world's best defending.

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
Praggnanandhaa RCredit
🇮🇳IND
1st · 0.0

Praggnanandhaa R

Last 5 games
World#13FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2758Age20

India's young super-GM, combining deep calculation with fearless classical play and the tactical nerve that makes every armageddon tiebreak feel winnable.

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 Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, McDonnell Defense
BlackRIND2735
+1
WhiteArjunIND2775
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.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

O-Oe8g8
+1.6598%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD98% would play this move

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

What changed

Threatening
Board structure

Immediate impact

Bc4 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Rd1Critical

Critical line

After critical line

White king under attack

Bc4 is active (king-zone pressure)
Qg6d6g6
+4.440%

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

Threatening

Immediate impact

Bc4 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Ne5Critical

Critical line

After critical line

White king under attack

Ne5 is active (king-zone pressure)