Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Andrey Esipenko
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2735) · GM Andrey Esipenko (2678)
Ian Nepomniachtchi and Andrey Esipenko have played 20 recorded games against each other, the first in Dec 2020 and the most recent in Mar 2026. Nepomniachtchi leads 9 wins to 5, with 6 draws (70% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Petrov's Defense (2 games). The average game between them lasted 54 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Nepomniachtchi | Draws | Esipenko |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepomniachtchi with White | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Esipenko with White | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Nepomniachtchi | Draws | Esipenko |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Rapid | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Classical | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Nepomniachtchi | Draws | Esipenko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| C84 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| C46 | Four Knights Game | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| C50 | Italian Game | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D38 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D79 | Indian Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | Aeroflot Open A 2026 |
| Feb 2026 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Titled Tue |
| Oct 2025 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Italian Game | Titled Tue |
| Sep 2025 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | FIDE Grand Swiss |
| Jul 2025 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Four Knights Game | Esports World Cup A |
| Jul 2025 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Four Knights Game | Esports World Cup A |
| Jul 2025 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | Esports World Cup A |
| Jul 2025 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Esports World Cup A |
| Jul 2025 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation | Esports World Cup A |
| Mar 2025 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Feb 2025 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Chessable Masters Losers |
| Feb 2025 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1/2-1/2 | Petrov's Defense | Chessable Masters Losers |
| Jul 2023 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Julius Baer Play In |
| Feb 2023 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | Duesseldorf WR Masters |
| Apr 2022 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | Chess.com Rapid Wk11 Swiss |
| Feb 2022 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Airthings Masters KO |
| Feb 2022 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | Airthings Masters KO |
| Feb 2022 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1-0 | Italian Game: Classical Variation | Airthings Masters KO |
| Feb 2022 | Andrey Esipenko | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Italian Game | Airthings Masters Prelim |
| Dec 2020 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Andrey Esipenko | 1-0 | Petrov's Defense | ch-RUS 73rd |
Interactive board, all 20 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Andrey Esipenko?
In 20 recorded games, Ian Nepomniachtchi has 9 wins, Andrey Esipenko has 5 wins, and they have drawn 6 times.
How many times have Ian Nepomniachtchi and Andrey Esipenko played each other?
Our database records 20 games between them, from Dec 2020 to Mar 2026.
What openings do Ian Nepomniachtchi and Andrey Esipenko play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Petrov's Defense (2 games), followed by the Ruy Lopez: Closed (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.