Prepare against Cian Ward
United Kingdom · World #17,586 classical · FIDE ID 475599
When preparing against Cian Ward, expect 1.e4 in 94% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (66% of games); against 1.d4, 1...e6 (52%).
Our database contains 225 games by Cian Ward, covering Dec 2018 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find Cian Ward's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Cian Ward 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 | 2,079 | 2,079 | Sep 2026 |
| Rapid | 1,879 | 1,966 | Jan 2026 |
| Blitz | 1,912 | 2,041 | Feb 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 225 | 80 | 57 | 88 | 35.6% |
| As White | 118 | 49 | 30 | 39 | 41.5% |
| As Black | 107 | 31 | 27 | 49 | 29.0% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Cian Ward's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Cian Ward's side.
First moves as White (118 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 111 | 94.1% | 53.2% |
| d4 | 7 | 5.9% | 71.4% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 94% of White games, 53.2% score
- …c5 (36% of these games) — Ward usually continues Nf3 (56.0% score)
- …e5 (23% of these games) — Ward usually continues Nf3 (56.0% score)
- …c6 (16% of these games) — Ward usually continues Nc3 (36.4% score)
- 1.d4 — 6% of White games, 71.4% score
- …Nf6 (71% of these games) — Ward usually continues Nf3 (60.0% score)
- …f5 (14% of these games) — Ward usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
- …d5 (14% of these games) — Ward usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (56 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 37 | 66.1% | 37.8% |
| e5 | 19 | 33.9% | 52.6% |
As Black against 1.d4 (33 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 17 | 51.5% | 29.4% |
| d5 | 12 | 36.4% | 70.8% |
| Nf6 | 4 | 12.1% | 12.5% |
Cian Ward's chess games
All 225 games by Cian Ward in the Chess.ceo database (Dec 2018 - 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: 80 wins, 57 draws, 88 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 14 | 5/3/6 | 35.7% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 13 | 2/2/9 | 15.4% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 13 | 6/3/4 | 46.2% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 11 | 4/4/3 | 36.4% |
| C07 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 10 | 5/5/0 | 50.0% |
| C53 | Italian Game: Classical Variation | 8 | 4/1/3 | 50.0% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 7 | 3/3/1 | 42.9% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 6 | 2/2/2 | 33.3% |
| B40 | Sicilian | 4 | 1/1/2 | 25.0% |
| C55 | Italian Game | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C05 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 9 | 1/1/7 | 11.1% |
| C16 | French: Winawer Variation | 8 | 1/3/4 | 12.5% |
| D11 | Slav Defense | 7 | 5/1/1 | 71.4% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 7 | 3/2/2 | 42.9% |
| C00 | French Defense | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| E42 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| A04 | Réti Opening | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| E04 | Catalan | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 4 | 1/1/2 | 25.0% |
| C50 | Italian Game | 4 | 3/1/0 | 75.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | Stefan Mazur | 2,392 | Hastings Masters 2025-26 | C55 |
| Sep 2026 | Sooraj M R | 2,216 | Hull 4NCL Congress 2026 - Open | A80 |
| May 2025 | Jan Murawski | 2,191 | 3rd Cambridge Int Open | C53 |
| Aug 2026 | David J Spence | 2,186 | 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Open | C06 |
| Aug 2026 | Matthew Dignam | 2,164 | VI Mindsports Int Open | B31 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT5-BCF U18 1920 (4NCL) online | 2020 | 16 | 12 | 1,406 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Blitz (Sat) | 2026 | 11 | 6.5 | 1,990 |
| British Rapidplay 2026 | 2026 | 11 | 6.5 | 1,992 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Blitz (Sun) | 2026 | 11 | 5 | 1,831 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Open | 2026 | 10 | 3.5 | 1,922 |
| 3rd Cambridge Int Open | 2025 | 9 | 3.5 | 1,938 |
| 19th South Wales Open | 2024 | 9 | 5 | 2,083 |
| Wightlink Int Masters | 2025 | 9 | 3 | 1,837 |
Interactive opening tree from all 225 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Cian Ward's chess games?
225 games by Cian Ward, from Dec 2018 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 Cian Ward has played.
What does Cian Ward play on the first move as White?
Across 118 games with White in our database, Cian Ward opens with 1.e4 (94% of games), 1.d4 (6% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Cian Ward answers 1...e6 (66% of games), 1...e5 (34% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...e6 (52% of games), 1...d5 (36% of games), 1...Nf6 (12% of games).
What openings does Cian Ward play as White?
As White, Cian Ward's most-played openings in our database are: Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation (14 games, 35.7% win rate); Sicilian: Alapin (13 games, 15.4% win rate); Scotch Game (13 games, 46.2% win rate). The full breakdown of 118 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Cian Ward play as Black?
As Black, Cian Ward most often plays: French: Tarrasch Variation (9 games, 11.1% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (8 games, 12.5% win rate); Slav Defense (7 games, 71.4% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 107 games.
What is Cian Ward's FIDE rating?
Cian Ward is currently rated 2,079 in classical chess, 1,879 in rapid and 1,912 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,079 (Sep 2026).
How many games has Cian Ward played?
Our database contains 225 games by Cian Ward, covering Dec 2018 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 80 wins, 57 draws, 88 losses (35.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against Cian Ward?
225 games by Cian Ward 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.