Prepare against Xavier Cowan
United Kingdom · World #57,540 classical · FIDE ID 458465
When preparing against Xavier Cowan, expect 1.d4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (92% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (100%).
Our database contains 49 games by Xavier Cowan, covering Jan 2018 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Xavier Cowan's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Xavier Cowan 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 | 1,864 | 1,864 | Aug 2026 |
| Rapid | 1,731 | 1,746 | Jul 2024 |
| Blitz | 1,753 | 1,805 | Apr 2024 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 49 | 18 | 10 | 21 | 36.7% |
| As White | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 39.1% |
| As Black | 26 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 34.6% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Xavier Cowan's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Xavier Cowan's side.
First moves as White (23 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 23 | 100.0% | 47.8% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 100% of White games, 47.8% score
- …Nf6 (48% of these games) — Cowan usually continues c4 (45.5% score)
- …d5 (35% of these games) — Cowan usually continues c4 (28.6% score)
- …e6 (9% of these games) — Cowan usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (13 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 12 | 92.3% | 37.5% |
| d6 | 1 | 7.7% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (9 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 9 | 100.0% | 50.0% |
Xavier Cowan's chess games
All 49 games by Xavier Cowan in the Chess.ceo database (Jan 2018 - 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: 18 wins, 10 draws, 21 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E43 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| D37 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| E70 | King's Indian Defense | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| D43 | Semi-Slav Defense | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A32 | Benoni Defense | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| A50 | Indian Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| E85 | King's Indian: Sämisch | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A41 | Modern Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| D06 | Queen's Gambit | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| D24 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 5 | 1/1/3 | 20.0% |
| A48 | Indian Defense | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| A57 | Benoni Defense | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| B51 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| B20 | Sicilian | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A45 | Trompowsky Attack | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| D51 | English Opening | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| D02 | London System | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | Tom Brown | 1,961 | 111th ch-GBR Major Open | D04 |
| Aug 2026 | Carlos Brugarolas Manzaneque | 1,884 | V Kingston Inv 2026 | A05 |
| Aug 2024 | Cameron Storey | 1,860 | ch-BCF Major | A40 |
| Jul 2019 | Jem Gurner | 1,851 | ch-GBR U16 106th | A57 |
| Aug 2024 | Reece Whittington | 1,793 | ch-BCF Major | A59 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111th ch-GBR Major Open | 2025 | 9 | 4.5 | 1,920 |
| ch-BCF U14 | 2018 | 7 | 3.5 | 1,642 |
| V Kingston Inv 2026 | 2026 | 7 | 2 | 1,758 |
| ch-GBR U16 106th | 2019 | 6 | 2.5 | 1,732 |
| 9th London Classic Open U1750 | 2017 | 5 | 3 | 1,463 |
| 10th London CSC 5-Day U2050 Open | 2018 | 5 | 2 | 1,679 |
| London Classic Open U2050 A 11th | 2019 | 5 | 1.5 | 1,481 |
| ch-BCF Major | 2024 | 4 | 3.5 | 2,106 |
Interactive opening tree from all 49 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Xavier Cowan's chess games?
49 games by Xavier Cowan, from Jan 2018 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 Xavier Cowan has played.
What does Xavier Cowan play on the first move as White?
Across 23 games with White in our database, Xavier Cowan opens with 1.d4 (100% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Xavier Cowan answers 1...c5 (92% of games), 1...d6 (8% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (100% of games).
What openings does Xavier Cowan play as White?
As White, Xavier Cowan's most-played openings in our database are: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System (4 games, 25.0% win rate); Queen's Gambit Declined (2 games, 0.0% win rate); King's Indian Defense (2 games, 50.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 23 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Xavier Cowan play as Black?
As Black, Xavier Cowan most often plays: Sicilian: Najdorf (5 games, 20.0% win rate); Indian Defense (3 games, 33.3% win rate); Benoni Defense (3 games, 66.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 26 games.
What is Xavier Cowan's FIDE rating?
Xavier Cowan is currently rated 1,864 in classical chess, 1,731 in rapid and 1,753 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 1,864 (Aug 2026).
How many games has Xavier Cowan played?
Our database contains 49 games by Xavier Cowan, covering Jan 2018 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 18 wins, 10 draws, 21 losses (36.7% win rate).
How do I prepare against Xavier Cowan?
49 games by Xavier Cowan 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.