Sam Shankland vs Fabiano Caruana
GM Sam Shankland (2658) · GM Fabiano Caruana (2792)
Sam Shankland and Fabiano Caruana have played 31 recorded games against each other, the first in Apr 2016 and the most recent in Oct 2025. Shankland leads 2 wins to 16 - trailing overall, with 13 draws (58% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo (2 games). The average game between them lasted 50 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shankland | Draws | Caruana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shankland with White | 15 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Caruana with White | 16 | 0 | 6 | 10 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shankland | Draws | Caruana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 16 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
| Classical | 10 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Rapid | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shankland | Draws | Caruana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C54 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| E32 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| D53 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A34 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B46 | Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B48 | Sicilian: Taimanov | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most recent 30 of 31 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 0-1 | Sicilian | ch-USA 2025 |
| Oct 2025 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Titled Tue |
| Aug 2025 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | Indian Defense | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2025 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2025 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Saint Louis Rapid |
| May 2025 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2024 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | Réti Opening: Spassky Variation | World Rapid 2024 |
| Dec 2024 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Saint Louis Masters |
| Oct 2024 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | ch-USA 2024 |
| Feb 2024 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian | Titled Tue Late |
| Oct 2023 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | ch-USA |
| Mar 2023 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 0-1 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | American Cup Blitz |
| Dec 2022 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Wch Blitz |
| Oct 2022 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1-0 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | Titled Tue Early |
| Oct 2022 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Symmetrical | ch-USA |
| Aug 2022 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 0-1 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Apr 2022 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Slav Defense | American Cup Blitz |
| Jan 2022 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 84th Tata Steel Masters |
| Oct 2021 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | ch-USA |
| Aug 2021 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Indian Defense | 8th Sinquefield Cup |
| Aug 2021 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2021 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Closed | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2021 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1-0 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Mar 2019 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | Bogo-Indian Defense | ch-USA 63rd |
| Mar 2019 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Taimanov | Bundesliga 2018-19 |
| Jan 2019 | Fabiano Caruana | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | PRO League Stage |
| Apr 2018 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | ch-USA |
| Mar 2017 | Sam Shankland | Fabiano Caruana | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | ch-USA |
Interactive board, all 31 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Sam Shankland and Fabiano Caruana?
In 31 recorded games, Sam Shankland has 2 wins, Fabiano Caruana has 16 wins, and they have drawn 13 times.
How many times have Sam Shankland and Fabiano Caruana played each other?
Our database records 31 games between them, from Apr 2016 to Oct 2025.
What openings do Sam Shankland and Fabiano Caruana play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo (2 games), followed by the Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.