Murali Karthikeyan vs Pouya Idani
GM Murali Karthikeyan (2668) · GM Pouya Idani (2615)
Murali Karthikeyan and Pouya Idani have played 10 recorded games against each other, the first in Feb 2019 and the most recent in Nov 2025. Karthikeyan leads 2 wins to 2, with 6 draws (40% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Sicilian: Najdorf (3 games). The average game between them lasted 55 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Karthikeyan | Draws | Idani |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karthikeyan with White | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Idani with White | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Karthikeyan | Draws | Idani |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Classical | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Rapid | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Karthikeyan | Draws | Idani |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| C44 | Italian Game | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| B32 | Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C55 | Italian Game | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C58 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | P Idani | Murali Karthikeyan | 1-0 | Italian Game | FIDE World Cup |
| Nov 2025 | P Idani | Murali Karthikeyan | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | FIDE World Cup |
| Nov 2025 | Pouya Idani | Murali Karthikeyan | 1-0 | Italian Game | FIDE World Cup 2025 |
| Nov 2025 | Murali Karthikeyan | P Idani | 1-0 | Sicilian: Closed | FIDE World Cup |
| Nov 2025 | Murali Karthikeyan | Pouya Idani | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Closed | FIDE World Cup 2025 |
| Nov 2025 | Murali Karthikeyan | P Idani | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | FIDE World Cup |
| Nov 2025 | Murali Karthikeyan | P Idani | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | FIDE World Cup |
| Nov 2025 | P Idani | Murali Karthikeyan | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | FIDE World Cup |
| Dec 2024 | P Idani | Murali Karthikeyan | 0-1 | Italian Game | Qatar Masters Open |
| Feb 2019 | Murali Karthikeyan | Pouya Idani | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 18th Moscow Aeroflot Open A |
Interactive board, all 10 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Murali Karthikeyan and Pouya Idani?
In 10 recorded games, Murali Karthikeyan has 2 wins, Pouya Idani has 2 wins, and they have drawn 6 times.
How many times have Murali Karthikeyan and Pouya Idani played each other?
Our database records 10 games between them, from Feb 2019 to Nov 2025.
What openings do Murali Karthikeyan and Pouya Idani play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Sicilian: Najdorf (3 games), followed by the Sicilian: Closed (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.