Prepare against Niall Clarke
United Kingdom · World #54,766 classical · FIDE ID 442968
Our database contains 69 games by Niall Clarke, covering Dec 2015 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Niall Clarke's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Niall Clarke 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 | 1,874 | 1,916 | Apr 2025 |
| Rapid | 1,860 | 1,934 | Feb 2026 |
| Blitz | 1,901 | 1,940 | Jun 2025 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 27 | 10 | 32 | 39.1% |
| As White | 33 | 11 | 4 | 18 | 33.3% |
| As Black | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 44.4% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Niall Clarke's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Niall Clarke's side.
First moves as White (33 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 32 | 97.0% | 40.6% |
| d4 | 1 | 3.0% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 97% of White games, 40.6% score
- …c5 (41% of these games) — Clarke usually continues Nf3 (34.6% score)
- …e5 (22% of these games) — Clarke usually continues Nf3 (57.1% score)
- …d6 (13% of these games) — Clarke usually continues d4 (37.5% score)
- 1.d4 — 3% of White games, 0.0% score
- …Nf6 (100% of these games) — Clarke usually continues Nc3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (18 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e5 | 18 | 100.0% | 58.3% |
As Black against 1.d4 (10 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 10 | 100.0% | 50.0% |
Niall Clarke's chess games
All 69 games by Niall Clarke in the Chess.ceo database (Dec 2015 - 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: 27 wins, 10 draws, 32 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C55 | Italian Game | 7 | 4/0/3 | 57.1% |
| B42 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| B34 | Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
| B32 | Sicilian | 3 | 0/0/3 | 0.0% |
| B15 | Caro-Kann: Main Line | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B45 | Sicilian: Four Knights | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| B72 | Sicilian: Dragon | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D00 | Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| C65 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| D02 | Catalan | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| C28 | King's Gambit | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| D35 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| C50 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| C50 | Italian Game | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| C51 | Italian Game: Evans Gambit | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| C25 | Vienna Game | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2021 | Elzbieta Vine | 2,138 | 5th 4NCL Online Open | C50 |
| Feb 2021 | Martin P Burrows | 2,125 | 5th 4NCL Online Open | C66 |
| Sep 2024 | Liam Clery | 2,000 | London Menchik Memorial Blitz Open | C28 |
| Oct 2020 | Joshua Pink | 1,924 | 4NCL Hull Online Open 1st | C30 |
| Feb 2026 | James Guest | 1,852 | British Universities Chess Association Championships 2026 | Plate | C25 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd London Menchik Memorial Blitz Open | 2024 | 13 | 4 | 1,621 |
| London Menchik Memorial Blitz Open | 2024 | 9 | 4 | 1,905 |
| British Universities Chess Association Championships 2026 | Plate | 2026 | 9 | 3 | 1,715 |
| British Universities Chess Association Championships 2026 | Blitz | 2026 | 9 | 3.5 | 1,808 |
| ch-ENG Schools Final | 2022 | 5 | 3.5 | 1,781 |
| BCF-ch Penrose U2000 Open | 2024 | 5 | 4 | 1,990 |
| 6th 4NCL Online Open | 2021 | 5 | 3 | 1,952 |
| 4NCL Hull Online Open 1st | 2020 | 5 | 2 | 1,756 |
Interactive opening tree from all 69 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Niall Clarke's chess games?
69 games by Niall Clarke, from Dec 2015 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 Niall Clarke has played.
What does Niall Clarke play on the first move as White?
Across 33 games with White in our database, Niall Clarke opens with 1.e4 (97% of games), 1.d4 (3% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Niall Clarke answers 1...e5 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (100% of games).
What openings does Niall Clarke play as White?
As White, Niall Clarke's most-played openings in our database are: Italian Game (7 games, 57.1% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (3 games, 33.3% win rate); Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon (3 games, 66.7% win rate). The full breakdown of 33 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Niall Clarke play as Black?
As Black, Niall Clarke most often plays: Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation (4 games, 50.0% win rate); Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (3 games, 33.3% win rate); Catalan (3 games, 66.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 36 games.
What is Niall Clarke's FIDE rating?
Niall Clarke is currently rated 1,874 in classical chess, 1,860 in rapid and 1,901 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 1,916 (Apr 2025).
How many games has Niall Clarke played?
Our database contains 69 games by Niall Clarke, covering Dec 2015 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 27 wins, 10 draws, 32 losses (39.1% win rate).
How do I prepare against Niall Clarke?
69 games by Niall Clarke 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.