Ivan Zaja vs Vladimir Jr. Bukal
GM Ivan Zaja (2394) · IM Vladimir Jr. Bukal (2282)
Ivan Zaja and Vladimir Jr. Bukal have played 12 recorded games against each other, the first in Jan 1995 and the most recent in Jul 2025. Zaja leads 5 wins to 2, with 5 draws (58% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Queen's Gambit (2 games). The average game between them lasted 31 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Zaja | Draws | Bukal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaja with White | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Bukal with White | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Zaja | Draws | Bukal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Zaja | Draws | Bukal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D07 | Queen's Gambit | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| A40 | English Defense | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| B40 | Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D02 | London System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| D15 | Slav Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D18 | Slav Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A13 | Queen's Indian Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | I Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit | 8th Solta Open |
| May 2022 | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | Ivan Zaja | 1/2-1/2 | London System | CRO Cup |
| Sep 2013 | Ivan Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 0-1 | English Defense | chT-CRO |
| Sep 2009 | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | Ivan Zaja | 0-1 | English Defense | 18th chT-CRO 1A |
| May 2008 | Ivan Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Zagreb Open A |
| May 2005 | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | Ivan Zaja | 1/2-1/2 | Modern Defense | Znojmo Open |
| Apr 2005 | Ivan Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Pawn Game | 11th Cutro Open A |
| Aug 2001 | Ivan Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 1-0 | Slav Defense | 13th Porto San Giorgio Open |
| May 2001 | Ivan Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit | 06th Cvitanovic Memorial |
| Jan 1999 | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | Ivan Zaja | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | ch-CRO Open |
| Jan 1996 | Ivan Zaja | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | 1-0 | Sicilian | ch-CRO |
| Jan 1995 | Vladimir Jr. Bukal | Ivan Zaja | 1-0 | Queen's Indian Defense | ch-Zagreb |
Interactive board, all 12 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Ivan Zaja and Vladimir Jr. Bukal?
In 12 recorded games, Ivan Zaja has 5 wins, Vladimir Jr. Bukal has 2 wins, and they have drawn 5 times.
How many times have Ivan Zaja and Vladimir Jr. Bukal played each other?
Our database records 12 games between them, from Jan 1995 to Jul 2025.
What openings do Ivan Zaja and Vladimir Jr. Bukal play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Queen's Gambit (2 games), followed by the English Defense (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.