Magnus Carlsen vs Alexey Sarana
GM Magnus Carlsen (2823) · GM Alexey Sarana (2666)
Magnus Carlsen and Alexey Sarana have played 41 recorded games against each other, the first in Oct 2019 and the most recent in Aug 2026. Carlsen leads 25 wins to 7, with 9 draws (78% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Indian Defense (4 games). The average game between them lasted 50 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Sarana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsen with White | 24 | 18 | 4 | 2 |
| Sarana with White | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Sarana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 38 | 23 | 8 | 7 |
| Classical | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rapid | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Sarana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D35 | Indian Defense | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| B50 | Sicilian | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| E73 | King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| B40 | Sicilian | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| E43 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A84 | Horwitz Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A45 | London System | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A13 | English Opening | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Most recent 30 of 41 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | Titled Tue 4th Aug 2026 |
| Jul 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | English Opening | 1st 3-0 Thu 2nd Jul 2026 |
| Jun 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Titled Tue 16th Jun 2026 |
| Apr 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1/2-1/2 | ? | Grenke Chess Festival 2026 | Freestyle Open A |
| Jan 2026 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Indian Defense | 1st 3-0 Thursday |
| Jan 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian | 1st 3-0 Thursday |
| Jan 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 0-1 | English Opening | Titled Tue |
| Dec 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian | World Rapid 2025 |
| Nov 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Indian Defense | 2nd 3-0 Thursday |
| Nov 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 1st 3-0 Thursday |
| Nov 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System | 1st 3-0 Thursday |
| Sep 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit Declined | Titled Tue |
| Aug 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Pawn Game | Titled Tue Early |
| Aug 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 0-1 | Catalan | Titled Tue Late |
| Aug 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzowitsch Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Jun 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System | Titled Tue Early |
| Apr 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Horwitz Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Mar 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Jan 2025 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | Titled Tue Early |
| Nov 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit Declined | Titled Tue Early |
| Oct 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Oct 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | London System | Titled Tue Late |
| Sep 2024 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Indian Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Aug 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1/2-1/2 | London System | Titled Tue Late |
| Aug 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Aug 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian | Titled Tue Late |
| Jul 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| May 2024 | Alexey Sarana | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | King's Indian Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian | Wch Blitz |
| Oct 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian | Titled Tue Early |
Interactive board, all 41 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Magnus Carlsen and Alexey Sarana?
In 41 recorded games, Magnus Carlsen has 25 wins, Alexey Sarana has 7 wins, and they have drawn 9 times.
How many times have Magnus Carlsen and Alexey Sarana played each other?
Our database records 41 games between them, from Oct 2019 to Aug 2026.
What openings do Magnus Carlsen and Alexey Sarana play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Indian Defense (4 games), followed by the Sicilian (4). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.