Pentala Harikrishna vs Nihal Sarin
GM Pentala Harikrishna (2655) · GM Nihal Sarin (2717)
Pentala Harikrishna and Nihal Sarin have played 10 recorded games against each other, the first in Nov 2018 and the most recent in Apr 2026. Harikrishna leads 2 wins to 1, with 7 draws (30% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (2 games). The average game between them lasted 46 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Harikrishna | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harikrishna with White | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Sarin with White | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Harikrishna | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Blitz | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Rapid | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Harikrishna | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C65 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| B30 | Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B73 | Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C09 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C20 | Portuguese Opening | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C63 | Ruy Lopez: Schliemann | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A04 | Colle System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Pentala Harikrishna | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian | V Menorca Cerrado 2026 |
| Apr 2026 | Nihal Sarin | Pentala Harikrishna | 1-0 | Portuguese Opening | V Menorca Cerrado 2026 |
| Apr 2025 | Pentala Harikrishna | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Jun 2023 | Nihal Sarin | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | chT-FRA Top 16 GpB |
| Sep 2022 | Nihal Sarin | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Pawn Game | chT-ESP Rapid |
| May 2022 | Pentala Harikrishna | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | Bundesliga 2021-22 |
| Dec 2021 | Nihal Sarin | Pentala Harikrishna | 1/2-1/2 | French: Tarrasch Variation | Wch Blitz |
| May 2019 | Pentala Harikrishna | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Colle System | FRA-chT Top 12 |
| May 2019 | Pentala Harikrishna | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Sicilian | 25th Sigeman & Co |
| Nov 2018 | Pentala Harikrishna | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Schliemann | Tata Steel India Rapid |
Interactive board, all 10 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Pentala Harikrishna and Nihal Sarin?
In 10 recorded games, Pentala Harikrishna has 2 wins, Nihal Sarin has 1 wins, and they have drawn 7 times.
How many times have Pentala Harikrishna and Nihal Sarin played each other?
Our database records 10 games between them, from Nov 2018 to Apr 2026.
What openings do Pentala Harikrishna and Nihal Sarin play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (2 games), followed by the Sicilian (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.