Magnus Carlsen, even after relinquishing his world title in 2023, remains the world’s top-ranked player and a fearsome competitor. Across the board sits Maxime Vachier-Lagrave — 'MVL' — the best French player of his generation, known for his razor-sharp tactical play and deep love of highly theoretical openings. Carlsen opts for the London System here, a weapon he helped bring back into fashion precisely to sidestep the heavy preparation of opponents like MVL.