Magnus Carlsen vs Nihal Sarin
GM Magnus Carlsen (2823) · GM Nihal Sarin (2718)
Magnus Carlsen and Nihal Sarin have played 21 recorded games against each other, the first in Feb 2017 and the most recent in Aug 2026. Carlsen leads 12 wins to 3, with 6 draws (71% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the London System (2 games). The average game between them lasted 51 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsen with White | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Sarin with White | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Rapid | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Classical | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A45 | London System | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| A04 | Colle System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A47 | Indian Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B00 | Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A00 | Kadas Opening | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Alapin | Esports World Cup 2026 |
| Aug 2026 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | London System | Esports World Cup 2026 |
| Aug 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Esports World Cup 2026 |
| Feb 2026 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense | Titled Tue |
| Jan 2026 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | London System | Titled Tue |
| Jul 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | Esports World Cup |
| Jul 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit Declined | Esports World Cup |
| Jul 2025 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Esports World Cup |
| Jul 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation | Titled Tue Early |
| Nov 2024 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Colle System | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Nov 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Catalan | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Nov 2024 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Oct 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| Aug 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | FIDE World Rapid Team |
| Jul 2024 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Clemenz Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Wch Blitz |
| Dec 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Modern Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2023 | Nihal Sarin | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Queen's Pawn Game | Titled Tue Late |
| Nov 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Kadas Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| Apr 2021 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | Carlsen-Challengers Simul |
| Feb 2017 | Magnus Carlsen | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | PRO League Stage |
Interactive board, all 21 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Magnus Carlsen and Nihal Sarin?
In 21 recorded games, Magnus Carlsen has 12 wins, Nihal Sarin has 3 wins, and they have drawn 6 times.
How many times have Magnus Carlsen and Nihal Sarin played each other?
Our database records 21 games between them, from Feb 2017 to Aug 2026.
What openings do Magnus Carlsen and Nihal Sarin play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the London System (2 games), followed by the Sicilian: Najdorf (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.