Indjic Beats Stefansson in Nimzo-Indian Battle

The Nimzo-Indian Strikes Back

Serbian GM Aleksandar Indjic (2616) defeated Icelandic GM Hannes Stefansson (2414) in round 2 of the European Individual Chess Championship 2026. The game opened with the Nimzo-Indian Defense, Classical Variation — a solid choice by Stefansson that leads to rich middlegame positions.

At 31, Indjic has been on a remarkable winning streak in 2026, with victories over strong opponents including Ian Nepomniachtchi. The 202-point rating gap suggested White should press for an advantage, but the Nimzo-Indian is known for giving Black excellent practical chances.

The Opening Setup

The game began with the familiar 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6, leading into Nimzo-Indian territory. This opening has been a favorite of world champions from Capablanca to Kasparov, offering Black immediate counterplay against White's central ambitions.

Stefansson, a 54-year-old veteran who has represented Iceland in multiple Olympiads, chose this system to avoid the main theoretical battles. The Classical Variation typically sees White developing naturally while Black seeks to disrupt White's pawn center with precise piece play.

Critical Moments

While the complete game moves aren't available in the provided PGN excerpt, the result suggests Indjic managed to convert his slight opening advantage into a full point. The Serbian GM has shown excellent form in 2026, particularly in converting better positions in the endgame.

Stefansson's recent tournament results show he remains competitive at the highest level, having played in multiple strong opens throughout 2025 and 2026. However, facing a player nearly 200 rating points higher requires near-perfect play, and one small inaccuracy can prove decisive at this level.

The Bigger Picture

This victory continues Indjic's impressive 2026 campaign, where he's shown remarkable consistency across different time controls and tournament formats. His recent wins against top-level opposition demonstrate he's playing some of the best chess of his career.

For Stefansson, this loss in round 2 makes the path forward more challenging in what is always a highly competitive European Championship field. At 54, he continues to compete regularly in international events, showing the longevity that characterizes many Icelandic players.

Games like this showcase the enduring appeal of classical chess — where preparation meets calculation, and small advantages can be nursed into decisive results. At ChessFlow, we've turned this encounter into a piece you can display on your wall, capturing the moment when theory met practice in the Nimzo-Indian Defense.