Sam Shankland vs Alireza Firouzja
GM Sam Shankland (2653) · GM Alireza Firouzja (2757)
Sam Shankland and Alireza Firouzja have played 10 recorded games against each other, the first in Feb 2020 and the most recent in Aug 2026. Shankland leads 1 wins to 5 - trailing overall, with 4 draws (60% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Réti Opening (1 games). The average game between them lasted 42 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shankland | Draws | Firouzja |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shankland with White | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Firouzja with White | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shankland | Draws | Firouzja |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Classical | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Rapid | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shankland | Draws | Firouzja |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A05 | Réti Opening | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A05 | Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A34 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A41 | Pirc Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B96 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C54 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C65 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| D87 | Grünfeld Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | Sam Shankland | Alireza Firouzja | 1-0 | Pirc Defense | Titled Tue 4th Aug 2026 |
| Nov 2025 | Alireza Firouzja | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Grünfeld Defense | 15th London Classic Elite |
| Sep 2025 | Sam Shankland | Alireza Firouzja | 0-1 | Sicilian: Najdorf | FIDE Grand Swiss |
| Dec 2024 | Sam Shankland | Alireza Firouzja | 0-1 | Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense | World Blitz 2024 |
| Dec 2024 | Sam Shankland | Alireza Firouzja | 1/2-1/2 | Réti Opening | World Rapid 2024 |
| Jan 2024 | Sam Shankland | Alireza Firouzja | 0-1 | Catalan | Chessable Masters Play In |
| Aug 2022 | Sam Shankland | Alireza Firouzja | 0-1 | Catalan | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Alireza Firouzja | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Alireza Firouzja | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Feb 2020 | Alireza Firouzja | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 2nd Prague Masters |
Interactive board, all 10 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Sam Shankland and Alireza Firouzja?
In 10 recorded games, Sam Shankland has 1 wins, Alireza Firouzja has 5 wins, and they have drawn 4 times.
How many times have Sam Shankland and Alireza Firouzja played each other?
Our database records 10 games between them, from Feb 2020 to Aug 2026.
What openings do Sam Shankland and Alireza Firouzja play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Réti Opening (1 games), followed by the Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.