Alexakis Outplays Kurmann in King's Indian at EICC 2026

The King's Indian Upset

Greek GM Dimitris Alexakis (2528) delivered a clinical performance against Swiss IM Oliver Kurmann (2377) in round two of the European Individual Championship 2026. Playing the black pieces in a King's Indian Defense Orthodox Variation, Alexakis converted a slight positional advantage into a full point after 36 moves.

The game followed well-known theoretical paths with 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5, transposing into the Grünfeld Defense before steering back toward King's Indian waters. Kurmann, the lower-rated player, handled the opening reasonably well but found himself gradually outplayed in the resulting middlegame positions.

The Critical Phase

The turning point came in the middlegame when both players had to navigate complex tactical sequences. After the queens were traded on move 20 with 20.Qxd8 Rfxd8, the position simplified into a rook endgame where technique became paramount.

Alexakis demonstrated the kind of precise endgame play that separates grandmasters from international masters. His rooks found active squares while Kurmann's pieces became increasingly passive. The Greek GM's 25...Rdd2 was particularly strong, doubling rooks on the second rank and creating immediate threats.

The Endgame Grind

What followed was a textbook example of how to convert a slight advantage in a rook endgame. Alexakis methodically improved his position while Kurmann struggled to find counterplay. The Swiss IM's 28.Rc6+ looked like it might offer some drawing chances, but Black's king march to e6 and then e7 kept the advantage firmly in hand.

By move 35, with 35...Ra3, Alexakis had achieved the ideal rook position - active on the third rank while his opponent's pieces remained tied to defense. Kurmann, facing a hopeless position, agreed to a draw after 36 moves, though the evaluation heavily favored Black.

The result puts Alexakis in good shape early in the championship, while Kurmann will need to bounce back quickly in such a competitive field. This kind of technical precision in rook endgames is exactly what separates the elite from the rest - and exactly the kind of game that looks stunning when transformed into wall art.