Vahap Sanal vs Nihal Sarin
GM Vahap Sanal (2555) · GM Nihal Sarin (2717)
Vahap Sanal and Nihal Sarin have played 14 recorded games against each other, the first in Jul 2019 and the most recent in Dec 2025. Sanal leads 3 wins to 10 - trailing overall, with 1 draws (93% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Sicilian: Moscow Variation (2 games). The average game between them lasted 48 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Sanal | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanal with White | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Sarin with White | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Sanal | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Classical | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Sanal | Draws | Sarin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| A06 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B00 | Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B07 | Philidor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B10 | Caro-Kann: Endgame Variation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B15 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B69 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | World Blitz 2025 |
| Apr 2025 | V Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Caro-Kann: Endgame Variation | Titled Tue Late |
| Jun 2024 | Nihal Sarin | Vahap Sanal | 1-0 | Philidor | Titled Tue Late |
| Jan 2024 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 1-0 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2023 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Italian Game | World Blitz 2023 |
| Sep 2023 | Nihal Sarin | Vahap Sanal | 1-0 | Slav Defense | AI Cup Play In |
| Aug 2023 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | Titled Tue Late |
| Jul 2023 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Petrov's Defense | chT-TUR |
| Jul 2023 | Nihal Sarin | Vahap Sanal | 1-0 | King's Gambit | Titled Tue Late |
| Feb 2023 | Nihal Sarin | Vahap Sanal | 0-1 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | Titled Tue Early |
| Dec 2022 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation | Wch Blitz |
| Jul 2021 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 0-1 | French: Advance Variation | Belgrade Serbia Open |
| Dec 2020 | Nihal Sarin | Vahap Sanal | 1-0 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | Chess.com Bullet Open 2 |
| Jul 2019 | Vahap Sanal | Nihal Sarin | 1/2-1/2 | Sicilian: Closed | chT-TUR |
Interactive board, all 14 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Vahap Sanal and Nihal Sarin?
In 14 recorded games, Vahap Sanal has 3 wins, Nihal Sarin has 10 wins, and they have drawn 1 times.
How many times have Vahap Sanal and Nihal Sarin played each other?
Our database records 14 games between them, from Jul 2019 to Dec 2025.
What openings do Vahap Sanal and Nihal Sarin play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Sicilian: Moscow Variation (2 games), followed by the Nimzovich-Larsen attack (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.