GCT Super Chess Classic 2026: Keymer beats MVL, emerges sole leader
Vincent Keymer defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in Round 4 of Grand Chess Tour Super Chess Classic 2026. The Germany no.1 has emerged sole leader 3/4.
So misses big against Deac
Vincent Keymer seized his opportunity against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave when the latter made an incorrect break. Jorden van Foreest and R Praggnanandhaa had a lukewarm draw. Javokhir Sindarov and Anish Giri battled for 107 before the game ended in a draw via 50-move rule. The game had a rook and knight vs rook endgame. Wesley So missed all of his chances in the endgame to beat Bogdan-Daniel Deac. Grand Chess Tour announced that Alireza Firouzja would not be able to play his fourth-round game against Fabiano Caruana.
Vincent Keymer (GER) has emerged sole leader 3/4 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
So – Deac: 0.5-0.5
Wesley So (USA, 2754) and Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU, 2650) have played six Classical rated games against each other, five of hem at this very same event. So won two and the remaining four ended in draws. The first Official World Fischer Random champion could have won his third Classical battle against Romanian.
Position after 36…Ka7
The only reason White might not have played 37.Nc8+ which forces Black to give up the exchange to prevent the checkmate on a8, seems to be White was worried about losing the h3-pawn and then Black’s kingside passed pawns rushing down the board. But that was just a phantom scare. 37…Rxc8 38.Rxc8 Nxh3 39.f3 and White has enough time to bring his king into the defence. The black king being shut at a7 is certainly a big help.
Position after 83…Rh7
84.Rd5/d4 should have been a comfortable win for White. Instead, he blundered 84.Re8?? Find out why it is a blunder.
Wesley So (USA) plenty of chances to win against Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Jorden van Foreest (NED) – R Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Keymer – Vachier-Lagrave: 1-0
Vincent Keymer (GER, 2759) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA, 2717) have played only three Classical rated games against each other. MVL won one and the remaining two ended in draws.
Position after 30…e4??
30…e4?? was incorrect break by Black. 31.fxe4+- Rxe4 32.Bg1 here computer recommends to go 32.c5 but 32.Bg1 is not bad either. 32…Rcxc4 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Qb5 Qg6 35.Bxe4 fxe4 36.Be3 Bf6 37.Qxa4 Nd4 38.Rxf6 and it’s over. With this win, Keymer emerged sole leader 3/4.
Vincent Keymer (GER) seized his opportunity against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Keymer’s Secret Tour Prep: Taking a Break| Video: Saint Louis Chess Club
Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) and Anish Giri (NED) played a 107-move marathon draw | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Three-time World Blitz Women’s champion, GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ), made the ceremonial first move on his beloved Javokhir Sindarov’s (UZB) board | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Vincent Keymer signs autographs for his fans | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Round 4 in progress | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Replay Round 4 live stream
Replay Round 4 live commentary by GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, IMs Nazi Paikidze & Irene Sukandar, and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club
Replay Round 4 games
Schedule and Format
Super Chess Classic will have one round per day from 14th to 23rd May. Rest day is on Tuesday 19th May. Each round starts at 4 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST, except the last round which starts at 2 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. It will be a 10-player Round Robin event. Time control will be 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.
Prize
The total prize fund is US$ 475000. The top three prizes are US$ 100000, $65000 and $50000.
Round 4 results
Standings after Round 4
All Round pairings
Links
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