Boris Gelfand vs Veselin Topalov
GM Boris Gelfand (2641) · GM Veselin Topalov (2695)
Boris Gelfand and Veselin Topalov have played 59 recorded games against each other, the first in Jan 1994 and the most recent in Oct 2015. Gelfand leads 8 wins to 17 - trailing overall, with 34 draws (42% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Petrov's Defense (6 games). The average game between them lasted 43 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Gelfand | Draws | Topalov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gelfand with White | 31 | 7 | 18 | 6 |
| Topalov with White | 28 | 1 | 16 | 11 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Gelfand | Draws | Topalov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 43 | 5 | 26 | 12 |
| Rapid | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Blitz | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Gelfand | Draws | Topalov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| D37 | Indian Defense | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| E94 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| E15 | Queen's Indian Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| D43 | Slav Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A40 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| D17 | Slav Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Most recent 30 of 59 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2015 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 31st EU-Cup |
| Jul 2013 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 0-1 | Grünfeld Defense | Beijing FIDE GP |
| Sep 2012 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | 1st London FIDE GP |
| Jul 2012 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 6th Wch Blitz |
| Jul 2012 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 6th Wch Blitz |
| Jul 2012 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | Wch Rapid |
| Jan 2012 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | 74th Tata Steel Masters |
| Mar 2011 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | 20th Amber Blindfold |
| Mar 2011 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Amber Rapid 20th |
| Feb 2010 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1-0 | Petrov's Defense | 27th Linares |
| Feb 2010 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | 27th Linares |
| Mar 2008 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Indian Defense | 17th Amber Rapid |
| Mar 2008 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | 17th Amber Blindfold |
| Jan 2008 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1-0 | Petrov's Defense | Corus |
| Mar 2006 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 15th Amber Blindfold |
| Mar 2006 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1-0 | Petrov's Defense | 15th Amber Rapid |
| Jan 2006 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Petrov's Defense | Corus |
| Mar 2005 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | 14th Amber Blindfold |
| Mar 2005 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | 14th Amber Rapid |
| Mar 2004 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Indian Defense | 13th Amber Blindfold |
| Mar 2004 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1-0 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 13th Amber Rapid |
| Oct 2003 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Semi-Slav Defense | Cap d'Agde Open A playoff |
| Oct 2003 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Cap d'Agde A |
| Oct 2003 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 0-1 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | Cap d'Agde Open A playoff |
| Mar 2003 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Petrov's Defense | 12th Amber Blindfold |
| Mar 2003 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 12th Amber Rapid |
| Jul 2002 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening | Candidates Tournament Gp 1 |
| Jul 2002 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | Candidates Tournament Gp 1 |
| Mar 2002 | Veselin Topalov | Boris Gelfand | 1/2-1/2 | Petrov's Defense | 11th Amber Rapid |
| Mar 2002 | Boris Gelfand | Veselin Topalov | 1-0 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 11th Amber Blindfold |
Interactive board, all 59 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Boris Gelfand and Veselin Topalov?
In 59 recorded games, Boris Gelfand has 8 wins, Veselin Topalov has 17 wins, and they have drawn 34 times.
How many times have Boris Gelfand and Veselin Topalov played each other?
Our database records 59 games between them, from Jan 1994 to Oct 2015.
What openings do Boris Gelfand and Veselin Topalov play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Petrov's Defense (6 games), followed by the Sicilian: Najdorf (4). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.