Hikaru Nakamura vs Pentala Harikrishna
GM Hikaru Nakamura (2792) · GM Pentala Harikrishna (2655)
18
Nakamura wins
22
draws
8
Harikrishna wins
48
games
Hikaru Nakamura and Pentala Harikrishna have played 48 recorded games against each other, the first in Oct 2000 and the most recent in Jun 2025. Nakamura leads 18 wins to 8, with 22 draws (54% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation (3 games). The average game between them lasted 51 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Nakamura | Draws | Harikrishna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nakamura with White | 29 | 11 | 15 | 3 |
| Harikrishna with White | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Nakamura | Draws | Harikrishna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 38 | 16 | 15 | 7 |
| Classical | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Rapid | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Nakamura | Draws | Harikrishna |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B11 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| E16 | Queen's Indian Defense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| A00 | Hungarian Opening | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A04 | Modern Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A07 | Modern Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Most recent 30 of 48 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | FIDE World Rapid Team |
| Apr 2025 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Sicilian | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Wch Blitz |
| Dec 2021 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto | Wch Blitz |
| Jul 2021 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | Chessable Masters Prelim |
| Dec 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | Airthings Masters Prelim |
| Sep 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Sep 2020 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Sep 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Jun 2020 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Dutch Defense | Chessable Masters GpA |
| Jun 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | Chessable Masters GpA |
| Nov 2019 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1-0 | Vienna Game | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2019 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Steinitz Defense Deferred | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2019 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Catalan | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Nov 2018 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2018 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2018 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Réti Opening | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Nov 2017 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Taimanov | Palma de Mallorca FIDE GP |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | chess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Modern Defense | chess.com qf blitz 1m+1spm |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Modern Defense | chess.com qf blitz 1m+1spm |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Catalan | chess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | chess.com gf blitz 5m+2spm |
| May 2016 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 0-1 | French: Exchange Variation | chess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm |
| May 2016 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense | chess.com QF Blitz 3m+2spm |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | chess.com gf blitz 5m+2spm |
| May 2016 | Pentala Harikrishna | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Modern Defense | chess.com qf blitz 1m+1spm |
| May 2016 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 0-1 | Vienna Game | chess.com qf blitz 1m+1spm |
| May 2016 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1-0 | Petrov's Defense | chess.com qf blitz 1m+1spm |
| May 2016 | Hikaru Nakamura | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | chess.com gf blitz 5m+2spm |
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Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Hikaru Nakamura and Pentala Harikrishna?
In 48 recorded games, Hikaru Nakamura has 18 wins, Pentala Harikrishna has 8 wins, and they have drawn 22 times.
How many times have Hikaru Nakamura and Pentala Harikrishna played each other?
Our database records 48 games between them, from Oct 2000 to Jun 2025.
What openings do Hikaru Nakamura and Pentala Harikrishna play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation (3 games), followed by the Queen's Indian Defense (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.