Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Sam Shankland
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2713) · GM Sam Shankland (2658)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sam Shankland have played 13 recorded games against each other, the first in Dec 2014 and the most recent in Aug 2025. Vachier-Lagrave leads 4 wins to 0, with 9 draws (31% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (3 games). The average game between them lasted 49 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Shankland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vachier-Lagrave with White | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Shankland with White | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Shankland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Classical | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Rapid | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Vachier-Lagrave | Draws | Shankland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| D97 | Grünfeld Defense | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| A13 | English Opening | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C54 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C88 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A29 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | Sam Shankland | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2025 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2025 | Sam Shankland | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 0-1 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Jul 2025 | Sam Shankland | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2022 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | French: Exchange Variation | Wch Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Sam Shankland | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Mar 2022 | Sam Shankland | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Grünfeld Defense | Berlin FIDE GP 3 Pool C |
| Mar 2022 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Berlin FIDE GP 3 Pool C |
| Aug 2021 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 8th Sinquefield Cup |
| Feb 2021 | Sam Shankland | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 1/2-1/2 | Grünfeld Defense | Opera Euro Rapid Prelim |
| Dec 2014 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | Qatar Masters Open |
Interactive board, all 13 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sam Shankland?
In 13 recorded games, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has 4 wins, Sam Shankland has 0 wins, and they have drawn 9 times.
How many times have Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sam Shankland played each other?
Our database records 13 games between them, from Dec 2014 to Aug 2025.
What openings do Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sam Shankland play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (3 games), followed by the English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.