GM R Praggnanandhaa (India) beat GM Nikita Vitiugov (England) in round 7 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026 (Open), in 31 moves.
The game turned on 25.Rh4. Before it, Stockfish had the position as a clear advantage for Black (-1.55); one move later, a clear advantage for Black (-2.48).
Stockfish wanted 25.Nh4 instead. Can you see why? And 25...Rab8, the engine's best reply, came straight back.
It began as the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation.
Replay it move by move, then take the key position on against the engine.
- White
- GM Nikita Vitiugov, 2666 · England
- Black
- GM R Praggnanandhaa, 2761 · India
- Result
- 0–1 in 31 moves
- Opening
- French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation · C14
- Event
- 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026, Open, Round 7 · Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Key move: {0}
- 25.Rh4
- Engine’s choice
- 25.Nh4