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

NiemannFedoseev

The Matchup

White
🇺🇸USA
1st · 0.0

Hans Moke Niemann

Last 5 games
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 →
1–0White wins
Black
SVN
1st · 0.0

Vladimir Fedoseev

Last 5 games
World#28FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2705Age30

A battle-hardened grandmaster with direct attacking instincts and years of experience at the world's sharpest team and individual events.

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


Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Staunton Variation
BlackFedoseevSVN2704
+1
WhiteNiemannUSA2725
B
+2.1W

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.

b6b7b6
+0.5346%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD46% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Board structure
Qc8d7c8
+0.4813%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD13% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Board structure
Nxc3e4c3
+0.697%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD7% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Board structure
Worse outposts for BlackNc3 is active

Hard to spot

Ba5c7a5
+0.601%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD1% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening