Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Magnus Carlsen
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2713) · GM Magnus Carlsen (2823)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Magnus Carlsen have played 203 recorded games against each other, the first in Sep 2005 and the most recent in Feb 2026. Vachier-Lagrave leads 43 wins to 76 - trailing overall, with 84 draws (59% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Grünfeld Defense (11 games). The average game between them lasted 49 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Carlsen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vachier-Lagrave with White | 93 | 22 | 50 | 21 |
| Carlsen with White | 110 | 21 | 34 | 55 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Carlsen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 114 | 31 | 38 | 45 |
| Rapid | 45 | 8 | 18 | 19 |
| Classical | 44 | 4 | 28 | 12 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Carlsen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D85 | Grünfeld Defense | 11 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| B50 | Sicilian | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| C88 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| A34 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| C77 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Most recent 30 of 203 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez | Titled Tue |
| Dec 2025 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Sicilian | World Blitz 2025 |
| Dec 2025 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | World Rapid 2025 |
| Dec 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Grünfeld Defense | Titled Tue |
| May 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Sicilian | Chess.com Classic Winners |
| May 2025 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon | Chess.com Classic Winners |
| May 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Grünfeld Defense | Chess.com Classic Winners |
| May 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Chess.com Classic Winners |
| May 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Dutch Defense | Chess.com Classic Winners |
| May 2025 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Chess.com Classic Winners |
| Mar 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Sicilian | Titled Tue Late |
| Mar 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Saragossa Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Feb 2025 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | CCT Final KO |
| Dec 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Sicilian: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | CCT Final KO |
| Dec 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | King's Indian Defense | CCT Final KO |
| Dec 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Sicilian: Alapin | CCT Final KO |
| Dec 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Modern Defense | CCT Final KO |
| Dec 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | CCT Final RR |
| Dec 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | CCT Final RR 2024 |
| Dec 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Réti Opening | CCT Final RR |
| Oct 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | Anti-Grünfeld | TechM GCL 2024 |
| Oct 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Philidor | TechM GCL 2024 |
| Jul 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 0-1 | Sicilian | CrunchLab Masters Div 1 w |
| Jul 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | Sicilian | CrunchLab Masters Div 1 w |
| Jul 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Indian Defense | CrunchLab Masters Div 1 w |
| Jul 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | CrunchLab Masters Div 1 w |
| Jul 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | CrunchLab Masters Div 1 w |
| Mar 2024 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Magnus Carlsen | 1/2-1/2 | Réti Opening | Karlsruhe Grenke |
| Mar 2024 | Magnus Carlsen | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | Karlsruhe Grenke |
Interactive board, all 203 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Magnus Carlsen?
In 203 recorded games, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has 43 wins, Magnus Carlsen has 76 wins, and they have drawn 84 times.
How many times have Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Magnus Carlsen played each other?
Our database records 203 games between them, from Sep 2005 to Feb 2026.
What openings do Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Magnus Carlsen play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Grünfeld Defense (11 games), followed by the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (10). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.