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 5 · 22 Jan 2026

Keymer — Aravindh

The Matchup

White
Vincent KeymerCredit
🇩🇪GER
4th · 1.5

Vincent Keymer

2654 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 gamesWLL½
World#4FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2776Age21

Germany's standard-bearer and fresh super-tournament winner, blending modern opening depth with patient technique and growing endgame confidence.

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
Chithambaram VR. AravindhCredit
🇮🇳IND
4th · 1.5

Chithambaram VR. Aravindh

2657 Performance · 1.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½L
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 →

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: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation
BlackAravindhIND2700
WhiteKeymerGER2767
B
+3.2W

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

Rxd8+d6d8
+4.3415%

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

Attacking
Threatening
Board structure

Immediate impact

Rook on d8 uses the open d-file

Critical reply

Qxd8!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Complex tradeoff

Bd5 is active (king-zone pressure)Piece eyes the king zone from d5

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

Qg6g3g6
+2.8412%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD12% 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

Hard to spot

Rxh3h1h3
+5.429%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD9% 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

Bd5 is active (king-zone pressure)

Critical reply

Rxh3!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Complex tradeoff

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

Nxc6d4c6
+5.356%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD6% would play this move

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

What changed

Attacking
Defending
Threatening

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Bxc6!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses the R on d6