Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand
GM Magnus Carlsen (2823) · GM Viswanathan Anand (2739)
41
Carlsen wins
82
draws
21
Anand wins
144
games
Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand have played 144 recorded games against each other, the first in Jun 2005 and the most recent in Jun 2026. Carlsen leads 41 wins to 21, with 82 draws (43% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (11 games). The average game between them lasted 43 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Anand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsen with White | 72 | 25 | 37 | 10 |
| Anand with White | 72 | 16 | 45 | 11 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Anand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 75 | 13 | 51 | 11 |
| Blitz | 43 | 20 | 19 | 4 |
| Rapid | 26 | 8 | 12 | 6 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Carlsen | Draws | Anand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| C65 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| C95 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| D37 | Indian Defense | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| D02 | London System | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| C54 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Most recent 30 of 144 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Sicilian: Taimanov | FIDE World Team Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026 | Blitz | Pool A |
| Oct 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | V Anand | 1-0 | English Opening | TechM GCL 2024 |
| Oct 2024 | V Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | TechM GCL 2024 |
| May 2024 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | French: Winawer Variation | Casablanca |
| May 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Italian Game: Evans Gambit | Casablanca |
| Jul 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Queen's Pawn Game | Zagreb SuperUnited Blitz |
| Jul 2023 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Caro-Kann: Endgame Variation | Zagreb SuperUnited Blitz |
| Jul 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | Zagreb SuperUnited Rapid |
| Jun 2023 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | French: Winawer Variation | Global Chess League |
| Jun 2023 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening: Symmetrical | Global Chess League |
| Jun 2022 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game | 10th Norway Chess |
| Jun 2022 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Italian Game | 10th Norway Chess Armageddon |
| May 2022 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Modern Defense | 10th Norway Masters Blitz |
| Jul 2020 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Sämisch Variation | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Classical | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jul 2020 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Legends of Chess Prelim |
| Jan 2020 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 82nd Tata Steel Masters |
| Nov 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | London System | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | Tata Steel India blitz |
| Nov 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Aug 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 7th Sinquefield Cup |
| Jun 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Croatia GCT |
| Jun 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | 7th Norway Chess |
| Jun 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Norway Chess Armageddon 7th |
| Jun 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Modern Defense | 7th Norway Masters Blitz |
| May 2019 | Viswanathan Anand | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Pirc Defense | Lindores Abbey Stars |
| May 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | Lindores Abbey Stars |
| Apr 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 6th Grenke Chess Classic |
| Apr 2019 | Magnus Carlsen | Viswanathan Anand | 1-0 | Indian Defense | 6th Gashimov Memorial |
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Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand?
In 144 recorded games, Magnus Carlsen has 41 wins, Viswanathan Anand has 21 wins, and they have drawn 82 times.
How many times have Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand played each other?
Our database records 144 games between them, from Jun 2005 to Jun 2026.
What openings do Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (11 games), followed by the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (9). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.