GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (CheQ Mumba Masters) beat GM Alireza Firouzja (Triveni Continental Kings) in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2026 (Preliminary Stage), in 60 moves.
The game turned on 27.Bb1. Before it, Stockfish had the position as a clear advantage for Black (-1.69); one move later, winning for Black (-3.18). It was played with 1:15 left on the clock.
Stockfish wanted 27.Nd3 instead. Can you see why? And 27...Ne2+, the engine's best reply, came straight back.
It began as the Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Hungarian Variation.
Replay it move by move, then take the key position on against the engine.
- White
- GM Alireza Firouzja, 2748 · Triveni Continental Kings
- Black
- GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 2706 · CheQ Mumba Masters
- Result
- 0–1 in 60 moves
- Opening
- Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Hungarian Variation · D97
- Event
- Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2026, Preliminary Stage · Bengaluru, India
- Key move: {0}
- 27.Bb1
- Engine’s choice
- 27.Nd3