Prepare against Gorik Cools
FM · Belgium · World #8,361 classical · FIDE ID 200298
Our database contains 428 games by Gorik Cools, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Gorik Cools's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Gorik Cools 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 | 2,198 | 2,365 | Apr 2006 |
| Rapid | 2,226 | 2,344 | Aug 2021 |
| Blitz | 2,173 | 2,276 | Sep 2018 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 428 | 187 | 99 | 142 | 43.7% |
| As White | 213 | 106 | 45 | 62 | 49.8% |
| As Black | 215 | 81 | 54 | 80 | 37.7% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Gorik Cools's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Gorik Cools's side.
First moves as White (213 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 196 | 92.0% | 62.0% |
| f4 | 6 | 2.8% | 58.3% |
| Nf3 | 4 | 1.9% | 50.0% |
| Nc3 | 3 | 1.4% | 16.7% |
| b3 | 1 | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| d4 | 1 | 0.5% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 92% of White games, 62.0% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Cools usually continues Nf3 (61.9% score)
- …e6 (20% of these games) — Cools usually continues d3 (59.3% score)
- …e5 (14% of these games) — Cools usually continues Nf3 (61.8% score)
- 1.f4 — 3% of White games, 58.3% score
- …g6 (33% of these games) — Cools usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …Nf6 (33% of these games) — Cools usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …d5 (17% of these games) — Cools usually continues e3 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (102 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 69 | 67.6% | 48.6% |
| e5 | 25 | 24.5% | 42.0% |
| c6 | 6 | 5.9% | 83.3% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.0% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 1 | 1.0% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (68 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 64 | 94.1% | 50.8% |
| e6 | 3 | 4.4% | 50.0% |
| f5 | 1 | 1.5% | 0.0% |
Gorik Cools's chess games
All 428 games by Gorik Cools in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Aug 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: 187 wins, 99 draws, 142 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B53 | Sicilian | 38 | 18/9/11 | 47.4% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 27 | 15/2/10 | 55.6% |
| B93 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 15 | 9/2/4 | 60.0% |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 11 | 3/6/2 | 27.3% |
| C38 | King's Gambit | 10 | 5/4/1 | 50.0% |
| B05 | Alekhine Defense | 10 | 7/3/0 | 70.0% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 9 | 5/2/2 | 55.6% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 9 | 5/1/3 | 55.6% |
| C68 | Ruy Lopez: Exchange | 7 | 4/3/0 | 57.1% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 6 | 3/0/3 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B80 | Sicilian: Scheveningen | 37 | 12/7/18 | 32.4% |
| D85 | Grünfeld Defense | 25 | 10/6/9 | 40.0% |
| D85 | Indian Defense | 15 | 3/5/7 | 20.0% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 14 | 5/3/6 | 35.7% |
| A16 | English Opening | 14 | 4/5/5 | 28.6% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 13 | 5/3/5 | 38.5% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 8 | 4/3/1 | 50.0% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 7 | 3/2/2 | 42.9% |
| C83 | Ruy Lopez: Open | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| C55 | Italian Game | 6 | 2/0/4 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1998 | Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2,565 | chT-BEL 9798 | B06 |
| Aug 2019 | Alexandre Dgebuadze | 2,495 | ch-BEL | A08 |
| Sep 1993 | Reinhard Lendwai | 2,425 | EU-Cup 09th Group 6 | A02 |
| Jan 1997 | Alik Gershon | 2,420 | Lost Boys Open | B30 |
| Jan 1990 | Michel Jadoul | 2,410 | ch-BEL | C00 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-BEL | 2019 | 56 | 22.5 | 2,265 |
| ch-BEL Open | 2013 | 16 | 10.5 | 2,160 |
| ch-Antwerp League Experts | 1993 | 16 | 11 | 2,346 |
| ch-Flemish | 2018 | 14 | 9 | 2,310 |
| Charleroi Open | 2023 | 14 | 9.5 | 2,288 |
| World U20-ch20 | 1981 | 13 | 6 | 2,270 |
| ch-BEL B | 1989 | 13 | 9 | 2,306 |
| chT-BEL 0405 | 2005 | 11 | 7 | 2,428 |
Interactive opening tree from all 428 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Gorik Cools's chess games?
428 games by Gorik Cools, from Apr 2003 to Aug 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 Gorik Cools has played.
What does Gorik Cools play on the first move as White?
Across 213 games with White in our database, Gorik Cools opens with 1.e4 (92% of games), 1.f4 (3% of games), 1.Nf3 (2% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Gorik Cools answers 1...c5 (68% of games), 1...e5 (25% of games), 1...c6 (6% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (94% of games), 1...e6 (4% of games), 1...f5 (1% of games).
What openings does Gorik Cools play as White?
As White, Gorik Cools's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (38 games, 47.4% win rate); King's Indian Attack (27 games, 55.6% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (15 games, 60.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 213 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Gorik Cools play as Black?
As Black, Gorik Cools most often plays: Sicilian: Scheveningen (37 games, 32.4% win rate); Grünfeld Defense (25 games, 40.0% win rate); Indian Defense (15 games, 20.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 215 games.
What is Gorik Cools's FIDE rating?
Gorik Cools is currently rated 2,198 in classical chess, 2,226 in rapid and 2,173 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,365 (Apr 2006).
How many games has Gorik Cools played?
Our database contains 428 games by Gorik Cools, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 187 wins, 99 draws, 142 losses (43.7% win rate).
How do I prepare against Gorik Cools?
428 games by Gorik Cools 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.