Alexander Donchenko vs Nihal Sarin
GM Alexander Donchenko (2635) · GM Nihal Sarin (2717)
Alexander Donchenko and Nihal Sarin have played 16 recorded games against each other, the first in Apr 2017 and the most recent in Jun 2026. Donchenko leads 5 wins to 8 - trailing overall, with 3 draws (81% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Réti Opening (2 games). The average game between them lasted 42 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Donchenko | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donchenko with White | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Sarin with White | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Donchenko | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Classical | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Donchenko | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A07 | Réti Opening | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A23 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A06 | Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| A35 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A41 | Modern Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B00 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| D04 | Colle System | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D12 | Slav Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 1-0 | Sicilian: Closed | 7th Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2026 |
| Apr 2026 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Réti Opening | Titled Tuesday |
| Aug 2025 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Réti Opening | Fujairah Global Superstar |
| Apr 2025 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Jun 2022 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | Jermuk Avagyan Memorial |
| Nov 2021 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 0-1 | Colle System | Lindores Abbey Blitz Tal Memorial |
| Nov 2021 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Modern Defense | Lindores Abbey Blitz Tal Memorial |
| Sep 2020 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | English Opening | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Catalan | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 1-0 | Queen's Indian Defense | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 0-1 | Nimzo-Larsen Attack | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Alexander Donchenko | 1-0 | Nimzo-Larsen Attack | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| May 2019 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | FRA-chT Top 12 |
| Apr 2017 | Alexander Donchenko | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | English Opening: Symmetrical | Reykjavik Open |
Interactive board, all 16 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Alexander Donchenko and Nihal Sarin?
In 16 recorded games, Alexander Donchenko has 5 wins, Nihal Sarin has 8 wins, and they have drawn 3 times.
How many times have Alexander Donchenko and Nihal Sarin played each other?
Our database records 16 games between them, from Apr 2017 to Jun 2026.
What openings do Alexander Donchenko and Nihal Sarin play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Réti Opening (2 games), followed by the English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.