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 13 · 30 Jan 2026

NguyenSindarov

The Matchup

White
🇨🇿CZE
9th · 3.0

Thai Dai Van Nguyen

2630 Performance · 5 behind leader

Last 5 games½LLLL
World#88FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2656Age33

The Czech Republic's leading player, valued for solid classical fundamentals and the calm technique to hold nerve in elite open tournaments.

Games in this event →
0–1Black wins
Black
🇺🇿UZB
2nd · 7.5

Javokhir Sindarov

2780 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½W½
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 →

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


King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System
BlackSindarovUZB2726
WhiteNguyenCZE2656
+1
B
+4.2W

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

Qc2e2c2
+2.5516%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD16% would play this move

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

Threatening
Nb5Critical

White king under attack

a2a3a2
+4.3615%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD15% 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 BlackBb2 is active
Qxa2!Critical

White king under attack

Black gets the main benefit, but black's material balance worsens by 1.00 pawns.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Qe5e2e5
+0.2318%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD18% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Nd6 is active (king-zone pressure)

Hard to spot

h5h7h5
+0.291%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD1% would play this move

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

Threatening
Board structure