Sam Shankland vs Nihal Sarin
GM Sam Shankland (2658) · GM Nihal Sarin (2717)
Sam Shankland and Nihal Sarin have played 13 recorded games against each other, the first in Sep 2020 and the most recent in Jul 2025. Shankland leads 2 wins to 5 - trailing overall, with 6 draws (54% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the English Opening: Slav Setup (1 games). The average game between them lasted 47 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shankland | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shankland with White | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Sarin with White | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shankland | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shankland | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A00 | English Opening: Slav Setup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A06 | Réti Opening | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A12 | Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A22 | English Opening | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A34 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A45 | London System | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | English Opening: Slav Setup | Titled Tue Early |
| Apr 2025 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2022 | Sam Shankland | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Queen's Gambit Declined | Wch Blitz |
| Nov 2021 | Sam Shankland | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Scotch Game | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Nov 2021 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Réti Opening | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 0-1 | London System | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | London System | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 1-0 | Trompowsky Attack | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Sam Shankland | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Sam Shankland | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Sam Shankland | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Sam Shankland | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Symmetrical | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
| Sep 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Sam Shankland | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Larsen Attack | Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup Qual A |
Interactive board, all 13 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Sam Shankland and Nihal Sarin?
In 13 recorded games, Sam Shankland has 2 wins, Nihal Sarin has 5 wins, and they have drawn 6 times.
How many times have Sam Shankland and Nihal Sarin played each other?
Our database records 13 games between them, from Sep 2020 to Jul 2025.
What openings do Sam Shankland and Nihal Sarin play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the English Opening: Slav Setup (1 games), followed by the Réti Opening (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.