Prepare against Ilay Zakin
FM · Israel · World #2,234 classical · FIDE ID 2848279
When preparing against Ilay Zakin, expect 1.e4 in 74% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (83% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (94%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: English Opening as Black, 18.8% over 16 games.
Our database contains 410 games by Ilay Zakin, covering Apr 2021 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Ilay Zakin's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Ilay Zakin 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 | 2,371 | 2,371 | Aug 2026 |
| Rapid | 2,183 | 2,282 | Dec 2025 |
| Blitz | 2,325 | 2,325 | Aug 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 410 | 175 | 55 | 180 | 42.7% |
| As White | 200 | 81 | 27 | 92 | 40.5% |
| As Black | 210 | 94 | 28 | 88 | 44.8% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Ilay Zakin's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Ilay Zakin's side.
First moves as White (200 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 147 | 73.5% | 47.3% |
| Nf3 | 27 | 13.5% | 42.6% |
| c4 | 18 | 9.0% | 52.8% |
| d4 | 5 | 2.5% | 40.0% |
| b3 | 2 | 1.0% | 50.0% |
| g3 | 1 | 0.5% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 74% of White games, 47.3% score
- …c5 (47% of these games) — Zakin usually continues Nf3 (43.2% score)
- …e5 (22% of these games) — Zakin usually continues Nf3 (53.1% score)
- …c6 (12% of these games) — Zakin usually continues d4 (30.8% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 14% of White games, 42.6% score
- …d5 (41% of these games) — Zakin usually continues g3 (33.3% score)
- …Nf6 (37% of these games) — Zakin usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
- …g6 (11% of these games) — Zakin usually continues g3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (106 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 88 | 83.0% | 51.7% |
| e5 | 9 | 8.5% | 61.1% |
| c6 | 5 | 4.7% | 70.0% |
| a6 | 3 | 2.8% | 100.0% |
| g6 | 1 | 0.9% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (67 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 63 | 94.0% | 51.6% |
| g6 | 3 | 4.5% | 66.7% |
| d5 | 1 | 1.5% | 0.0% |
Ilay Zakin's chess games
All 410 games by Ilay Zakin in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2021 - 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: 175 wins, 55 draws, 180 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B40 | Sicilian | 22 | 6/6/10 | 27.3% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 19 | 6/2/11 | 31.6% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 11 | 5/2/4 | 45.5% |
| A05 | Réti Opening | 11 | 6/0/5 | 54.5% |
| C77 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 10 | 6/3/1 | 60.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 9 | 3/2/4 | 33.3% |
| C05 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 8 | 3/0/5 | 37.5% |
| A13 | English Opening | 8 | 6/1/1 | 75.0% |
| C47 | Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation | 6 | 2/0/4 | 33.3% |
| B11 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 5 | 3/0/2 | 60.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 19 | 9/1/9 | 47.4% |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 17 | 13/2/2 | 76.5% |
| A39 | English Opening | 16 | 3/3/10 | 18.8% |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 14 | 4/2/8 | 28.6% |
| A57 | Benoni Defense | 12 | 4/3/5 | 33.3% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 11 | 3/0/8 | 27.3% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 10 | 3/2/5 | 30.0% |
| A50 | Indian Defense | 10 | 7/0/3 | 70.0% |
| C40 | Elephant Gambit | 9 | 5/1/3 | 55.6% |
| A04 | Modern Defense | 7 | 4/0/3 | 57.1% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | Etienne Bacrot | 2,631 | Titled Tue Early | A09 |
| Aug 2026 | Elham Amar | 2,587 | Kanizsa Open 2026 | B90 |
| Mar 2026 | Luca Jr Moroni | 2,563 | 2nd 3-0 Thursday | A45 |
| Mar 2026 | Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian | 2,544 | 2nd 3-0 Thursday | E90 |
| Aug 2026 | Filip Magold | 2,503 | Kanizsa Open 2026 | B23 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titled Tuesday | 2025 | 194 | 90 | 2,209 |
| 2nd 3-0 Thursday | 2026 | 22 | 12.5 | 2,355 |
| ch-ISR Open | 2026 | 13 | 5.5 | 2,196 |
| 26th ch-EUR Indiv 2026 | 2026 | 11 | 6 | 2,409 |
| Netanya Closed IM | 2025 | 9 | 4 | 2,295 |
| ch-Rishon Le Ziyyon U18 | 2023 | 9 | 6.5 | 1,686 |
| ch-ISR 2024 | 2025 | 9 | 3.5 | 2,263 |
| Israeli Youth Championships 2026 | 2026 | 9 | 7 | 2,323 |
Interactive opening tree from all 410 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Ilay Zakin's chess games?
410 games by Ilay Zakin, from Apr 2021 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 Ilay Zakin has played.
What does Ilay Zakin play on the first move as White?
Across 200 games with White in our database, Ilay Zakin opens with 1.e4 (74% of games), 1.Nf3 (14% of games), 1.c4 (9% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Ilay Zakin answers 1...c5 (83% of games), 1...e5 (8% of games), 1...c6 (5% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (94% of games), 1...g6 (4% of games), 1...d5 (1% of games).
What openings does Ilay Zakin play as White?
As White, Ilay Zakin's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (22 games, 27.3% win rate); Sicilian: Moscow Variation (19 games, 31.6% win rate); Sicilian: Rossolimo (11 games, 45.5% win rate). The full breakdown of 200 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Ilay Zakin play as Black?
As Black, Ilay Zakin most often plays: Sicilian: Sveshnikov (19 games, 47.4% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (17 games, 76.5% win rate); English Opening (16 games, 18.8% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 210 games.
What is Ilay Zakin's FIDE rating?
Ilay Zakin is currently rated 2,371 in classical chess, 2,183 in rapid and 2,325 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,371 (Aug 2026).
How many games has Ilay Zakin played?
Our database contains 410 games by Ilay Zakin, covering Apr 2021 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 175 wins, 55 draws, 180 losses (42.7% win rate).
How do I prepare against Ilay Zakin?
410 games by Ilay Zakin 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.