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

Bluebaum — Erigaisi Arjun

The Matchup

White
Matthias BluebaumCredit
🇩🇪GER
3rd · 2.5

Matthias Bluebaum

2726 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 games½½WL½
World#32FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2684Age28

Germany's leading grandmaster, known for disciplined classical technique, subtle maneuvering, and patient endgame grinding.

Games in this event →
½–½Draw
Black
Erigaisi ArjunCredit
🇮🇳IND
3rd · 2.5

Erigaisi Arjun

2727 Performance · 1 behind leader

Last 5 gamesW½½½L
World#11FIDE Standard world ranking from the latest monthly classical rating list before this tournament started. List: 2026-03-01.Elo2775Age22

One of India's fastest-rising super-GMs, known for razor-sharp opening play and the initiative to keep even the world's best defending.

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

Indian Defense: Wade-Tartakower Defense
BlackArjunIND2775
WhiteBluebaumGER2684
+2
B
+0.3W

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

Nxd6b5d6
-1.0511%

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

Critical reply

Rxg1!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses material on c6

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

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

Rxg6+g1g6
+3.0069%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD69% 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

Nb5 is active

Critical reply

Bxg6!Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Loses material on c6

Open files near the White king: g, hLess active pieces for White