Sam Shankland vs Hikaru Nakamura
GM Sam Shankland (2658) · GM Hikaru Nakamura (2792)
Sam Shankland and Hikaru Nakamura have played 31 recorded games against each other, the first in Apr 2015 and the most recent in Jun 2025. Shankland leads 6 wins to 16 - trailing overall, with 9 draws (71% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Nimzovich-Larsen attack (4 games). The average game between them lasted 43 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shankland | Draws | Nakamura |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shankland with White | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Nakamura with White | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shankland | Draws | Nakamura |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 15 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| Rapid | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Classical | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shankland | Draws | Nakamura |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A01 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| A05 | Réti Opening | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D16 | Slav Defense | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| A36 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A13 | English Opening | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A42 | Modern Defense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Most recent 30 of 31 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Apr 2025 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | Titled Tue Early |
| Mar 2025 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | Titled Tue Early |
| Jan 2025 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | English Opening | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2024 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 0-1 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2024 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Réti Opening | World Rapid 2024 |
| Nov 2024 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Queen's Gambit Declined | Titled Tue Early |
| Sep 2024 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Aug 2024 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Abu Dhabi Masters Online |
| Apr 2024 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2023 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 1-0 | Modern Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Feb 2023 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian | PRO League Prelim |
| Aug 2022 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Modern Defense | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Apr 2022 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Aug 2021 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2021 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Indian Defense | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2021 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Feb 2021 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 0-1 | Sicilian | Opera Euro Rapid Prelim |
| Oct 2020 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Hungarian Opening | ch-USA |
| Mar 2019 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | ch-USA 63rd |
| Jan 2019 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | PRO League Stage |
| Apr 2018 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | ch-USA |
| Apr 2017 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | ch-USA |
| Apr 2016 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | ch-USA |
| Sep 2015 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Classical Variation | FIDE World Cup |
| Sep 2015 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | English Opening: Symmetrical | FIDE World Cup |
| Sep 2015 | Sam Shankland | Hikaru Nakamura | 1/2-1/2 | King's Indian Defense | FIDE World Cup |
| Sep 2015 | Hikaru Nakamura | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | FIDE World Cup |
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 Hikaru Nakamura?
In 31 recorded games, Sam Shankland has 6 wins, Hikaru Nakamura has 16 wins, and they have drawn 9 times.
How many times have Sam Shankland and Hikaru Nakamura played each other?
Our database records 31 games between them, from Apr 2015 to Jun 2025.
What openings do Sam Shankland and Hikaru Nakamura play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Nimzovich-Larsen attack (4 games), followed by the Réti Opening (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.