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 8 · 25 Jan 2026

Abdusattorov — Giri

The Matchup

White
Nodirbek AbdusattorovCredit
🇺🇿UZB
1st · 5.5

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

2834 Performance

Last 5 games½W½WW
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 →
0–1Black wins
Black
Anish GiriCredit
🇳🇱NED
5th · 3.0

Anish Giri

2707 Performance · 2.5 behind leader

Last 5 gamesL½½½W
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

Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense
BlackGiriNED2760
+2
WhiteAbdusattorovUZB2751
B
-2.3W

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.

Engine & players agree

Playable moves worth considering here.

a4a2a4
-0.8445%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD45% would play this move

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

What changed

Defending
Threatening
Board structure

Immediate impact

Critical reply

Ra5Critical

Critical line

After critical line

Allows concrete threats

White gets the main benefit, but white's pieces become more active.

Kd2c2d2
-1.3117%

MAIA 2200

PLAYER LIKELIHOOD17% would play this move

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

What changed

Threatening

Immediate impact

Nh4 is active (king-zone pressure)