Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Viswanathan Anand
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2735) · GM Viswanathan Anand (2739)
Ian Nepomniachtchi and Viswanathan Anand have played 56 recorded games against each other, the first in Jul 2009 and the most recent in Dec 2025. Nepomniachtchi leads 16 wins to 15, with 25 draws (55% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Sicilian: Najdorf (8 games). The average game between them lasted 43 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Nepomniachtchi | Draws | Anand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepomniachtchi with White | 27 | 9 | 11 | 7 |
| Anand with White | 29 | 7 | 14 | 8 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Nepomniachtchi | Draws | Anand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 25 | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Rapid | 21 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
| Classical | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Nepomniachtchi | Draws | Anand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| A21 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| B53 | Sicilian | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A17 | English Opening | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A23 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| B46 | Sicilian | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Most recent 30 of 56 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | V Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Petrov's Defense | Jerusalem Masters Knockout |
| Dec 2025 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | V Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Open | Jerusalem Masters Knockout |
| Nov 2025 | V Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Petrov's Defense | Jerusalem Masters |
| Sep 2023 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | Amsterdam Levitov Rapid |
| Sep 2023 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Amsterdam Levitov Rapid |
| Jul 2023 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Open | Zagreb SuperUnited Blitz |
| Jul 2023 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Zagreb SuperUnited Blitz |
| Jul 2023 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Zagreb SuperUnited Rapid |
| Jun 2023 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Classical | Global Chess League |
| Jun 2023 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Petrov's Defense | Global Chess League |
| Jul 2021 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Sicilian | Zagreb GCT Blitz |
| Jul 2021 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening | Zagreb GCT Blitz |
| Jul 2021 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | Zagreb GCT Rapid |
| Aug 2020 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | Online Olympiad KO Stage |
| Jul 2020 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Vienna Game | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 0-1 | Sicilian: Taimanov | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| May 2020 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Grünfeld Defense | Nations Cup Online Prelim |
| Nov 2019 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Sicilian | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2019 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Aug 2019 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 0-1 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 7th Sinquefield Cup |
| Aug 2019 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Amsterdam Levitov Rapid |
| Aug 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Modern Defense | Amsterdam Levitov Blitz |
| Aug 2019 | Ian Nepomniachtchi | Viswanathan Anand | 0-1 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | Paris GCT blitz |
| Jul 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | Paris GCT blitz |
| Jul 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Paris GCT Rapid |
| Jun 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 0-1 | Italian Game | Croatia GCT |
Interactive board, all 56 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Viswanathan Anand?
In 56 recorded games, Ian Nepomniachtchi has 16 wins, Viswanathan Anand has 15 wins, and they have drawn 25 times.
How many times have Ian Nepomniachtchi and Viswanathan Anand played each other?
Our database records 56 games between them, from Jul 2009 to Dec 2025.
What openings do Ian Nepomniachtchi and Viswanathan Anand play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Sicilian: Najdorf (8 games), followed by the English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (5). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.