Hikaru Nakamura vs Vladislav Kovalev
GM Hikaru Nakamura (2792) · GM Vladislav Kovalev (2565)
Hikaru Nakamura and Vladislav Kovalev have played 24 recorded games against each other, the first in Dec 2018 and the most recent in Sep 2024. Nakamura leads 17 wins to 3, with 4 draws (83% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Modern Defense (3 games). The average game between them lasted 46 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Nakamura | Draws | Kovalev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nakamura with White | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Kovalev with White | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Nakamura | Draws | Kovalev |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| Rapid | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Nakamura | Draws | Kovalev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B06 | Modern Defense | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| A00 | Hungarian Opening | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| C24 | Bishop's Opening | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A14 | Réti Opening | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A65 | King's Indian: Sämisch | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B28 | St. George Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | Titled Tue Late |
| Aug 2024 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Modern Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Jul 2024 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Bishop's Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Jul 2024 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Queen's Indian Defense | CrunchLab Masters PlayIn |
| Apr 2024 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | King's Indian: Sämisch | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2023 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Bishop's Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2023 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Bishop's Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Nov 2023 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Hungarian Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Oct 2023 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | St. George Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Jun 2023 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | Titled Tue Late |
| Jun 2023 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Hungarian Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Wch Rapid |
| Aug 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Scotch Game | Chess.com Rapid Wk25 Swiss |
| Jul 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 0-1 | Réti Opening | Chess.com Rapid Wk23 Swiss |
| Jul 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Chess.com Rapid Wk20 Swiss |
| Apr 2022 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation | chess.com Rapid Wk12 Swiss |
| Jun 2021 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Modern Defense | Titled Tue |
| May 2021 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Sicilian | Titled Tue |
| May 2021 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Modern Defense | Titled Tue |
| Sep 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue |
| Jul 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue |
| Jun 2020 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Titled Tue |
| Oct 2019 | Vladislav Kovalev | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss |
| Dec 2018 | Hikaru Nakamura | Vladislav Kovalev | 1-0 | Indian Defense | Wch Rapid |
Interactive board, all 24 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Hikaru Nakamura and Vladislav Kovalev?
In 24 recorded games, Hikaru Nakamura has 17 wins, Vladislav Kovalev has 3 wins, and they have drawn 4 times.
How many times have Hikaru Nakamura and Vladislav Kovalev played each other?
Our database records 24 games between them, from Dec 2018 to Sep 2024.
What openings do Hikaru Nakamura and Vladislav Kovalev play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Modern Defense (3 games), followed by the Hungarian Opening (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.