Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Ruslan Ponomariov
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2713) · GM Ruslan Ponomariov (2632)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ruslan Ponomariov have played 21 recorded games against each other, the first in Jul 2009 and the most recent in Oct 2023. Vachier-Lagrave leads 5 wins to 6 - trailing overall, with 10 draws (52% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Sicilian: Najdorf (2 games). The average game between them lasted 54 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Ponomariov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vachier-Lagrave with White | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Ponomariov with White | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Ponomariov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Classical | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Rapid | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Ponomariov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| A88 | English Opening: Dutch Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B81 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B08 | Réti Opening | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B43 | Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B07 | London System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A36 | English Opening | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2023 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Pawn Game | FIDE Grand Swiss |
| Jul 2016 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Dortmund 44th |
| Jun 2015 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto | 28th Leon |
| Jun 2015 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Grünfeld Defense | 28th Leon |
| Jun 2015 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Indian Defense | 28th Leon |
| Jun 2015 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 28th Leon |
| Dec 2014 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Réti Opening | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz |
| Dec 2014 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz |
| Dec 2013 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 0-1 | English Opening: Dutch Defense | Beijing Sportaccord Basque |
| Dec 2013 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | Beijing Sportaccord Basque |
| Dec 2013 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz |
| Dec 2013 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 0-1 | Italian Game | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz |
| Feb 2012 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | chT-Euskadi (Vasca) Div Honor |
| Dec 2011 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Beijing Sportaccord Blindfold |
| Dec 2011 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | English Opening | Beijing Sportaccord Rapid |
| Jan 2011 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening | 73rd Tata Steel Masters |
| Dec 2010 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 0-1 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 29th ch-EU blitz |
| Dec 2010 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 29th ch-EU blitz |
| Nov 2010 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Ruslan Ponomariov | 1-0 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 5th Wch Blitz |
| Nov 2010 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | London System | 5th Wch Blitz |
| Jul 2009 | Ruslan Ponomariov | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1-0 | Grünfeld Defense | Donostia A |
Interactive board, all 21 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ruslan Ponomariov?
In 21 recorded games, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has 5 wins, Ruslan Ponomariov has 6 wins, and they have drawn 10 times.
How many times have Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ruslan Ponomariov played each other?
Our database records 21 games between them, from Jul 2009 to Oct 2023.
What openings do Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ruslan Ponomariov play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Sicilian: Najdorf (2 games), followed by the English Opening: Dutch Defense (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.