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 10 · 27 Jan 2026

Sindarov — Van Foreest

The Matchup

White
Javokhir SindarovCredit
🇺🇿UZB
2nd · 5.5

Javokhir Sindarov

2769 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 gamesW½½½½
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
Jorden Van ForeestCredit
🇳🇱NED
2nd · 5.5

Jorden Van Foreest

2759 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½LW½W
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 Gambit Declined: Janowski Variation
BlackForeestNED2705
WhiteSindarovUZB2726
B
+0.0W

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

Be2f1e2
-1.4024%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD24% would play this move

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

What changed

Threatening

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Rd8Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Black king under attack

Qd4d1d4
-2.4521%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD21% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Bd6 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Nb3Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Open files near the Black king: d, e

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Bxc5d6c5
-0.3338%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD38% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Threatening

Immediate impact

Bc5 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Qxc5!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses material on c3

White gets the main benefit, but white creates more concrete threats.