Prepare against Nikolai Ninov
GM · BGR · World #3,843 classical · FIDE ID 2900424
When preparing against Nikolai Ninov, expect 1.e4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (75% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (58%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: English Opening as Black, 4.5% over 22 games.
Our database contains 1,148 games by Nikolai Ninov, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Nikolai Ninov's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Nikolai Ninov 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 | 2,307 | 2,562 | Jul 2009 |
| Rapid | 2,384 | 2,490 | Jun 2019 |
| Blitz | 2,388 | 2,456 | Jun 2018 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1,148 | 475 | 509 | 164 | 41.4% |
| As White | 565 | 274 | 238 | 53 | 48.5% |
| As Black | 583 | 201 | 271 | 111 | 34.5% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Nikolai Ninov's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Nikolai Ninov's side.
First moves as White (565 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 563 | 99.6% | 69.6% |
| d4 | 2 | 0.4% | 50.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 100% of White games, 69.6% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Ninov usually continues Nf3 (71.5% score)
- …e5 (23% of these games) — Ninov usually continues Nf3 (65.6% score)
- …e6 (12% of these games) — Ninov usually continues d4 (65.4% score)
- 1.d4 — 0% of White games, 50.0% score
- …d5 (100% of these games) — Ninov usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (242 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 181 | 74.8% | 61.6% |
| e5 | 45 | 18.6% | 51.1% |
| d6 | 13 | 5.4% | 34.6% |
| Nc6 | 1 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| d5 | 1 | 0.4% | 100.0% |
| c6 | 1 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (237 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 137 | 57.8% | 62.4% |
| d5 | 89 | 37.6% | 48.9% |
| d6 | 10 | 4.2% | 90.0% |
| f5 | 1 | 0.4% | 100.0% |
Nikolai Ninov's chess games
All 1,148 games by Nikolai Ninov 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: 475 wins, 509 draws, 164 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B41 | Sicilian | 106 | 59/37/10 | 55.7% |
| B92 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 47 | 27/13/7 | 57.4% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 27 | 15/8/4 | 55.6% |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 26 | 16/9/1 | 61.5% |
| C12 | French: Classical Variation | 23 | 11/10/2 | 47.8% |
| C15 | French: Winawer Variation | 22 | 11/9/2 | 50.0% |
| B18 | Caro-Kann: Classical | 19 | 12/6/1 | 63.2% |
| B78 | Sicilian: Dragon | 19 | 9/6/4 | 47.4% |
| C57 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | 17 | 6/6/5 | 35.3% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 17 | 8/7/2 | 47.1% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D39 | Indian Defense | 59 | 20/29/10 | 33.9% |
| B80 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 58 | 31/15/12 | 53.4% |
| B29 | Sicilian | 46 | 21/15/10 | 45.7% |
| E04 | Catalan | 32 | 9/19/4 | 28.1% |
| D31 | Semi-Slav Defense | 24 | 13/7/4 | 54.2% |
| A37 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 24 | 8/11/5 | 33.3% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 23 | 10/9/4 | 43.5% |
| A04 | Réti Opening | 23 | 5/16/2 | 21.7% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 23 | 8/10/5 | 34.8% |
| A33 | English Opening | 22 | 1/13/8 | 4.5% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2006 | Krishnan Sasikiran | 2,670 | 22nd Cappelle Open | D41 |
| Feb 2010 | Julio E Granda Zuniga | 2,640 | Nancy A | B18 |
| Feb 2010 | Yannick Pelletier | 2,602 | Nancy A | B47 |
| Apr 2011 | Julian Radulski | 2,586 | ch-BUL 75th | B74 |
| Jul 2006 | Vladislav Nevednichy | 2,576 | 5th La Fere Open | B89 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wch U26 | 1994 | 27 | 17.5 | 2,517 |
| chT-BUL | 2003 | 27 | 17 | 2,445 |
| ch-BUL | 2025 | 18 | 10 | 2,386 |
| chT-SRB | 2011 | 18 | 10.5 | 2,559 |
| 19th San Sebastian Open | 2009 | 16 | 11.5 | 2,489 |
| Lazarevac 28th | 1999 | 13 | 7.5 | 2,496 |
| YUG Cup | 1998 | 13 | 7 | 2,468 |
| ch-BUL 75th | 2011 | 13 | 7 | 2,532 |
Frequent opponents
Head-to-head records: Aleksander Delchev (13 games)
Interactive opening tree from all 1,148 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Nikolai Ninov's chess games?
1,148 games by Nikolai Ninov, 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 Nikolai Ninov has played.
What does Nikolai Ninov play on the first move as White?
Across 565 games with White in our database, Nikolai Ninov opens with 1.e4 (100% of games), 1.d4 (0% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Nikolai Ninov answers 1...c5 (75% of games), 1...e5 (19% of games), 1...d6 (5% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (58% of games), 1...d5 (38% of games), 1...d6 (4% of games).
What openings does Nikolai Ninov play as White?
As White, Nikolai Ninov's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (106 games, 55.7% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (47 games, 57.4% win rate); Modern Defense (27 games, 55.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 565 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Nikolai Ninov play as Black?
As Black, Nikolai Ninov most often plays: Indian Defense (59 games, 33.9% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (58 games, 53.4% win rate); Sicilian (46 games, 45.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 583 games.
What is Nikolai Ninov's FIDE rating?
Nikolai Ninov is currently rated 2,307 in classical chess, 2,384 in rapid and 2,388 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,562 (Jul 2009).
How many games has Nikolai Ninov played?
Our database contains 1,148 games by Nikolai Ninov, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 475 wins, 509 draws, 164 losses (41.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Nikolai Ninov?
1,148 games by Nikolai Ninov 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.