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

Sindarov — Gukesh D

The Matchup

White
Javokhir SindarovCredit
🇺🇿UZB
1st · 0.0

Javokhir Sindarov

Last 5 games
World#12FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2726Age20

A young Uzbek grandmaster with sharp opening confidence and a direct, resourceful approach to dynamic positions.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Gukesh DCredit
🇮🇳IND
1st · 0.0

Gukesh D

Last 5 games
World#10FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2754Age19

India's reigning world champion, combining lightning calculation with resolute classical play in the sport's highest-pressure moments.

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
BlackDIND2732
WhiteSindarovUZB2726
B
+0.3W

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
+0.3750%

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
-0.0215%

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

Critical reply

d5Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses piece activity

White controls e4, d5Black has holes on d7

Hard to spot

e4e2e4
+0.375%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD5% 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