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 6 · 23 Jan 2026

AbdusattorovGukesh D

The Matchup

White
🇺🇿UZB
1st · 3.5

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

2782 Performance

Last 5 games½W½W½
World#5FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2751Age21

Uzbekistan's world rapid champion and Wijk aan Zee breakthrough winner, blending fearless calculation with patience in long classical fights.

Games in this event →
1–0White wins
Black
🇮🇳IND
2nd · 3.0

Gukesh D

2764 Performance · 0.5 behind leader

Last 5 games½½½½W
World#10FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2754Age19

India's reigning world champion, combining lightning calculation with resolute classical play in the sport's highest-pressure moments.

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


Ruy Lopez: Closed, Delayed Exchange
BlackDIND2732
+1
WhiteAbdusattorovUZB2751
B
+12.6W

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

Qh4d4h4
+1.7824%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD24% would play this move

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

Defending
Threatening
Rh1Critical

Allows concrete threats

Black gets the main benefit, but white's king faces more checks and king-zone pressure.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

fxe5f6e5
+0.0033%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD33% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening
Rf8d8f8
+0.0013%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD13% would play this move

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

Threatening
Board structure

Hard to spot

Qc3d4c3
+0.023%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD3% would play this move

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

Attacking
Threatening