Prepare against Joshua Sheng
GM · United States · World #598 classical · FIDE ID 2057360
When preparing against Joshua Sheng, expect 1.e4 in 79% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (62% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (61%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Slav Defense as Black, 22.2% over 18 games.
Our database contains 526 games by Joshua Sheng, covering Mar 2012 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Joshua Sheng's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Joshua Sheng 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 | 2,498 | 2,498 | Jul 2026 |
| Rapid | 2,511 | 2,511 | Jul 2026 |
| Blitz | 2,380 | 2,380 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 526 | 233 | 160 | 133 | 44.3% |
| As White | 266 | 127 | 70 | 69 | 47.7% |
| As Black | 260 | 106 | 90 | 64 | 40.8% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Joshua Sheng's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Joshua Sheng's side.
First moves as White (266 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 209 | 78.6% | 61.5% |
| d4 | 32 | 12.0% | 56.3% |
| c4 | 22 | 8.3% | 56.8% |
| g3 | 2 | 0.8% | 100.0% |
| Na3 | 1 | 0.4% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 79% of White games, 61.5% score
- …c5 (38% of these games) — Sheng usually continues Nf3 (64.3% score)
- …e5 (26% of these games) — Sheng usually continues Nf3 (53.5% score)
- …e6 (14% of these games) — Sheng usually continues d4 (67.2% score)
- 1.d4 — 12% of White games, 56.3% score
- …Nf6 (78% of these games) — Sheng usually continues Nc3 (62.5% score)
- …d5 (16% of these games) — Sheng usually continues Nc3 (50.0% score)
- …d6 (3% of these games) — Sheng usually continues Nf3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (118 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 73 | 61.9% | 61.0% |
| e5 | 21 | 17.8% | 45.2% |
| e6 | 14 | 11.9% | 75.0% |
| c6 | 8 | 6.8% | 62.5% |
| g6 | 2 | 1.7% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (92 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 56 | 60.9% | 63.4% |
| d5 | 29 | 31.5% | 48.3% |
| e6 | 4 | 4.3% | 87.5% |
| g6 | 2 | 2.2% | 25.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.1% | 50.0% |
Joshua Sheng's chess games
All 526 games by Joshua Sheng in the Chess.ceo database (Mar 2012 - Jul 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: 233 wins, 160 draws, 133 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B41 | Sicilian | 27 | 12/7/8 | 44.4% |
| B94 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 21 | 12/4/5 | 57.1% |
| C54 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 18 | 7/7/4 | 38.9% |
| D00 | Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation | 15 | 8/3/4 | 53.3% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 11 | 8/1/2 | 72.7% |
| C03 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 10 | 4/3/3 | 40.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 9 | 1/2/6 | 11.1% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 8 | 3/2/3 | 37.5% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 8 | 4/3/1 | 50.0% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 8 | 4/3/1 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B42 | Sicilian | 46 | 25/13/8 | 54.3% |
| D46 | Slav Defense | 18 | 4/9/5 | 22.2% |
| A17 | English Opening | 11 | 3/5/3 | 27.3% |
| A48 | Indian Defense | 10 | 5/4/1 | 50.0% |
| D02 | London System | 10 | 4/3/3 | 40.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 9 | 5/1/3 | 55.6% |
| E94 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 9 | 5/2/2 | 55.6% |
| D31 | Semi-Slav Defense | 8 | 3/5/0 | 37.5% |
| D02 | Réti Opening | 8 | 2/3/3 | 25.0% |
| E70 | King's Indian Defense | 7 | 3/3/1 | 42.9% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2015 | Fabiano Caruana | 2,796 | Las Vegas Millionaire Open | B42 |
| Mar 2017 | Varuzhan Akobian | 2,645 | PRO League KO Stage | D31 |
| Aug 2019 | Yaroslav Zherebukh | 2,631 | 49th Continental Open | B12 |
| Mar 2018 | Daniel Naroditsky | 2,619 | PRO League Stage | A08 |
| Nov 2017 | Samuel Sevian | 2,615 | Dallas Fall Open | B50 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRO League Stage | 2019 | 35 | 19.5 | 2,524 |
| Titled Tuesday | 2022 | 19 | 12.5 | 2,537 |
| ch-USA U20 | 2020 | 18 | 9.5 | 2,498 |
| 2nd PNWCC Online Blitz JP | 2020 | 11 | 7 | 2,021 |
| Wch U12 | 2012 | 11 | 6 | 1,851 |
| FIDE World Corporate GpA | 2025 | 10 | 10 | 2,511 |
| Charlotte CCCSA Thanksgiving GM | 2020 | 9 | 4 | 2,397 |
| San Francisco 1000 GM Memorial Day | 2024 | 9 | 6.5 | 2,564 |
Interactive opening tree from all 526 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Joshua Sheng's chess games?
526 games by Joshua Sheng, from Mar 2012 to Jul 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 Joshua Sheng has played.
What does Joshua Sheng play on the first move as White?
Across 266 games with White in our database, Joshua Sheng opens with 1.e4 (79% of games), 1.d4 (12% of games), 1.c4 (8% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Joshua Sheng answers 1...c5 (62% of games), 1...e5 (18% of games), 1...e6 (12% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (61% of games), 1...d5 (32% of games), 1...e6 (4% of games).
What openings does Joshua Sheng play as White?
As White, Joshua Sheng's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (27 games, 44.4% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (21 games, 57.1% win rate); Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo (18 games, 38.9% win rate). The full breakdown of 266 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Joshua Sheng play as Black?
As Black, Joshua Sheng most often plays: Sicilian (46 games, 54.3% win rate); Slav Defense (18 games, 22.2% win rate); English Opening (11 games, 27.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 260 games.
What is Joshua Sheng's FIDE rating?
Joshua Sheng is currently rated 2,498 in classical chess, 2,511 in rapid and 2,380 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,498 (Jul 2026).
How many games has Joshua Sheng played?
Our database contains 526 games by Joshua Sheng, covering Mar 2012 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 233 wins, 160 draws, 133 losses (44.3% win rate).
How do I prepare against Joshua Sheng?
526 games by Joshua Sheng 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.