Loek Van Wely vs Ruslan Ponomariov
GM Loek Van Wely (2640) · GM Ruslan Ponomariov (2632)
Loek Van Wely and Ruslan Ponomariov have played 15 recorded games against each other, the first in Jul 2000 and the most recent in May 2025. Wely leads 3 wins to 4 - trailing overall, with 8 draws (47% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Sicilian: Rossolimo (2 games). The average game between them lasted 48 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Wely | Draws | Ponomariov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wely with White | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Ponomariov with White | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Wely | Draws | Ponomariov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 14 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Rapid | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Wely | Draws | Ponomariov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| B22 | Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B46 | Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D20 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 0-1 | Sicilian | Chess.com Classic Play-In |
| Mar 2018 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Pawn Game | Bundesliga 2017-18 |
| Sep 2008 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Modern Defense | chT-ESP Honor Gp1 |
| Oct 2007 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 0-1 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Hoogeveen Essent Crown 11th |
| Oct 2007 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Hoogeveen Essent Crown 11th |
| Jan 2007 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian | Corus |
| Sep 2006 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | chT-ESP Honor Gp2 |
| Dec 2005 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 1-0 | Sicilian | FIDE World Cup |
| Dec 2005 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | FIDE World Cup |
| Jan 2005 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Corus |
| Oct 2003 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 1-0 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 14th chT-EU |
| Jan 2003 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 1-0 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | Corus |
| Sep 2000 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Closed | EU-Cup 16th |
| Jul 2000 | Loek Van Wely | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | Biel GM |
| Jul 2000 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Loek Van Wely | 0-1 | Sicilian: Alapin | Biel GM |
Interactive board, all 15 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Loek Van Wely and Ruslan Ponomariov?
In 15 recorded games, Loek Van Wely has 3 wins, Ruslan Ponomariov has 4 wins, and they have drawn 8 times.
How many times have Loek Van Wely and Ruslan Ponomariov played each other?
Our database records 15 games between them, from Jul 2000 to May 2025.
What openings do Loek Van Wely and Ruslan Ponomariov play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Sicilian: Rossolimo (2 games), followed by the Sicilian (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.