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 3 · 20 Jan 2026

Van Foreest — Giri

The Matchup

White
Jorden Van ForeestCredit
🇳🇱NED
2nd · 1.0

Jorden Van Foreest

2705 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½
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 →
1–0White wins
Black
Anish GiriCredit
🇳🇱NED
3rd · 0.5

Anish Giri

2651 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 gamesL½
World#8FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2760Age31

Dutch chess's perennial contender, valued for creative opening ideas, rapid adaptation, and razor-sharp theoretical preparation.

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

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack
BlackGiriNED2760
WhiteForeestNED2705
+3
B
+1.7W

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

Nf8+e6f8
+0.7615%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD15% 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

Worse outposts for WhiteBe3 is active (king-zone pressure)

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Rc8h8c8
+2.7211%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD11% 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

Nc7 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Nxe6!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

Open file near the White king: cWorse outposts for White

White gets the main benefit, but white gets the healthier pawn structure.