Vachier Lagrave, M. – Praggnanandhaa, R.

2738 2025 · Draw

Sveshnikov Sicilian, 2025: Vachier-Lagrave (2738) against Praggnanandhaa (2785). After 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8, Black settles into the familiar structure and looks for counterplay with f5, while White pushes b4 and c5 on the queenside. The engine flags no turning point at all: neither side ever lets the position slip. White plays 100% at least good moves, Black 89%, with two inaccuracies that never disturb the balance. The finish says it: after 43.Nh7+ Kg8 44.Nf6+ Kf8, the knight repeats and the game is drawn. The lesson: in a Sveshnikov, holding the line cleanly usually beats forcing matters.