Prepare against Ben Magana
CM · Kenya · World #29,083 classical · FIDE ID 10800166
When preparing against Ben Magana, expect 1.e4 in 66% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e5 (97% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (79%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Ruy Lopez: Closed as Black, 27.8% over 18 games.
Our database contains 254 games by Ben Magana, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find Ben Magana's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Ben Magana before a game. You can open the same data in the free interactive preparation workstation, which builds a move-by-move opening tree from every game.
Ratings
| Time control | Current | Peak | Peak date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 1,992 | 2,200 | Apr 2006 |
| Rapid | 2,021 | 2,107 | Jul 2016 |
| Blitz | 2,074 | 2,138 | Apr 2022 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 254 | 127 | 40 | 87 | 50.0% |
| As White | 124 | 66 | 20 | 38 | 53.2% |
| As Black | 130 | 61 | 20 | 49 | 46.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Ben Magana's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Ben Magana's side.
First moves as White (124 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 82 | 66.1% | 64.0% |
| d4 | 38 | 30.6% | 59.2% |
| Nf3 | 4 | 3.2% | 25.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 66% of White games, 64.0% score
- …c5 (40% of these games) — Magana usually continues Nf3 (56.0% score)
- …e5 (26% of these games) — Magana usually continues Nf3 (70.0% score)
- …c6 (7% of these games) — Magana usually continues d4 (50.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 31% of White games, 59.2% score
- …Nf6 (66% of these games) — Magana usually continues Bf4 (60.9% score)
- …d5 (29% of these games) — Magana usually continues Bf4 (55.0% score)
- …e5 (3% of these games) — Magana usually continues dxe5 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (62 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e5 | 60 | 96.8% | 60.0% |
| d5 | 1 | 1.6% | 100.0% |
| Nc6 | 1 | 1.6% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (42 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 33 | 78.6% | 45.5% |
| Nf6 | 8 | 19.0% | 50.0% |
Ben Magana's chess games
All 254 games by Ben Magana in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Sep 2026) are free to browse, search and replay: filter by opening, opponent, event or date on the player page, or step through any game on the analysis board. Record: 127 wins, 40 draws, 87 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D02 | London System | 34 | 16/7/11 | 47.1% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 12 | 6/1/5 | 50.0% |
| B92 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 6 | 4/0/2 | 66.7% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| B02 | Alekhine Defense | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
| C24 | Bishop's Opening | 3 | 3/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 3 | 3/0/0 | 100.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C89 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 18 | 5/2/11 | 27.8% |
| C55 | Italian Game | 14 | 7/3/4 | 50.0% |
| D10 | Slav Defense | 12 | 2/2/8 | 16.7% |
| D08 | Albin Countergambit | 10 | 6/2/2 | 60.0% |
| D00 | London System | 8 | 6/1/1 | 75.0% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 7 | 3/1/3 | 42.9% |
| D11 | Queen's Pawn Game | 6 | 0/2/4 | 0.0% |
| C29 | Vienna Game | 5 | 4/0/1 | 80.0% |
| C24 | Bishop's Opening | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
| D04 | Colle System | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2007 | Ahmed Adly | 2,488 | ch-Africa | B50 |
| Jun 2013 | Gillan Bwalya | 2,310 | Dar es Salaam Open | B50 |
| Jul 2016 | David Silva | 2,305 | ch-Africa | C60 |
| May 2013 | Harold Wanyama | 2,219 | Uganda-Nairobi CC | B92 |
| Nov 2008 | Leonhard Mueller | 2,199 | Olympiad-38 | B06 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-Africa | 2021 | 28 | 13.5 | 2,159 |
| Olympiad-37 | 2006 | 12 | 3 | 2,020 |
| chT-World Rapid | 2023 | 12 | 4 | 2,101 |
| ch-KEN | 2022 | 12 | 10 | 1,885 |
| Olympiad-34 | 2000 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,211 |
| Olympiad-43 | 2018 | 10 | 4.5 | 2,161 |
| 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026 | Open | Matches 1-12 | 2026 | 10 | 6 | 2,113 |
| Olympiad-38 | 2008 | 10 | 4 | 2,132 |
Interactive opening tree from all 254 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Ben Magana's chess games?
254 games by Ben Magana, from Apr 2003 to Sep 2026, are free to browse and replay move by move — no signup needed. The preparation view groups them into an opening tree showing every line Ben Magana has played.
What does Ben Magana play on the first move as White?
Across 124 games with White in our database, Ben Magana opens with 1.e4 (66% of games), 1.d4 (31% of games), 1.Nf3 (3% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Ben Magana answers 1...e5 (97% of games), 1...d5 (2% of games), 1...Nc6 (2% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (79% of games), 1...Nf6 (19% of games).
What openings does Ben Magana play as White?
As White, Ben Magana's most-played openings in our database are: London System (34 games, 47.1% win rate); Sicilian (12 games, 50.0% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (6 games, 66.7% win rate). The full breakdown of 124 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Ben Magana play as Black?
As Black, Ben Magana most often plays: Ruy Lopez: Closed (18 games, 27.8% win rate); Italian Game (14 games, 50.0% win rate); Slav Defense (12 games, 16.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 130 games.
What is Ben Magana's FIDE rating?
Ben Magana is currently rated 1,992 in classical chess, 2,021 in rapid and 2,074 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,200 (Apr 2006).
How many games has Ben Magana played?
Our database contains 254 games by Ben Magana, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 127 wins, 40 draws, 87 losses (50.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Ben Magana?
254 games by Ben Magana reveal their opening repertoire, most-played lines, and the variations where they score worst — the raw material for targeted preparation. The interactive opening tree lets you walk every line to any depth.