Sam Shankland vs Levon Aronian
GM Sam Shankland (2658) · GM Levon Aronian (2724)
Sam Shankland and Levon Aronian have played 18 recorded games against each other, the first in Apr 2015 and the most recent in Oct 2025. Shankland leads 2 wins to 10 - trailing overall, with 6 draws (67% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense (2 games). The average game between them lasted 49 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shankland | Draws | Aronian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shankland with White | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Aronian with White | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shankland | Draws | Aronian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Rapid | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Classical | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shankland | Draws | Aronian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D38 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| E04 | Catalan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| B51 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B67 | Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B84 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C54 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | ch-USA 2025 |
| Aug 2025 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 0-1 | Queen's Indian Defense | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2025 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2025 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Four Knights | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Dec 2024 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | World Rapid 2024 |
| Oct 2024 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Sicilian: Closed | ch-USA 2024 |
| Dec 2023 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 1/2-1/2 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | Titled Tue Early |
| Oct 2023 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | ch-USA |
| Oct 2022 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | ch-USA |
| Aug 2022 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | Saint Louis Blitz |
| Aug 2022 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Saint Louis Rapid |
| Jul 2022 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 1-0 | Scotch Game | FTX Road to Miami Prelim |
| Nov 2021 | Levon Aronian | Sam Shankland | 0-1 | Sicilian | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Nov 2021 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 0-1 | Petrov's Defense | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Nov 2021 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 0-1 | Catalan | Tata Steel India Rapid |
| Feb 2021 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 0-1 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Opera Euro Rapid Prelim |
| Apr 2015 | Sam Shankland | Levon Aronian | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 10th WchT |
Interactive board, all 18 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Sam Shankland and Levon Aronian?
In 18 recorded games, Sam Shankland has 2 wins, Levon Aronian has 10 wins, and they have drawn 6 times.
How many times have Sam Shankland and Levon Aronian played each other?
Our database records 18 games between them, from Apr 2015 to Oct 2025.
What openings do Sam Shankland and Levon Aronian play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense (2 games), followed by the Catalan (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.