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 4 · 21 Jan 2026

AravindhNiemann

The Matchup

White
🇮🇳IND
2nd · 1.5

Chithambaram VR. Aravindh

2701 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½
World#34FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2700Age26

An Indian grandmaster with creative, uncompromising style — willing to stir complications when the position calls for chaos.

Games in this event →
0–1Black wins
Black
🇺🇸USA
1st · 2.0

Hans Moke Niemann

2753 Performance

Last 5 gamesW½½
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 →

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


English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Rubinstein Variation
BlackNiemannUSA2725
+2
WhiteAravindhIND2700
B
-9.7W

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

Na3b1a3
-6.1327%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD27% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Na3 is active

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Nc3b1c3
+3.031%

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
Nc3 is active
Qxc3+!Critical

Complex tradeoff

Black gets the main benefit, but black creates more concrete threats.