Openings › World Chess Championship 2026 › Title matches since 2021
Title matches since 2021
World Chess Championship openings: every game since 2021
With club results by Lichess rating
11 of 43
title-match games were a Ruy Lopez · the 2021, 2023 and 2024 matches, Lichess broadcasts
11 of 43! The Ruy Lopez tops the title matches.
This page covers only the title matches that Lichess broadcast officially and that are in its open broadcast files: 2021, 2023 and 2024. The 2026 match is added when its games are in the files. Earlier matches are not covered.
In the 43 games of the 2021, 2023 and 2024 title matches (4 of them tie-break games), the Ruy Lopez came up most often: 11 times, in 2 of the 3 matches.
Openings across the 3 matches
Opening families in the 43 games, by match, next to club results at Lichess 1500–1799 (the rating level with the most games in our sample). Each bar is the family's share of the 43 games.
Game data: Lichess broadcasts · CC BY-SA 4.0
2021: Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
11 classical games. Ended early, after game 11. First moves: 1.e4 8, 1.d4 2, 1.c4 1. Decisive games: 4 of 11. Average length: 52 moves.
| Game | Date | White | Black | Opening | ECO | Result | Moves | Lichess |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 26 Nov 2021 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Carlsen, Magnus | Ruy Lopez: Closed | C88 | ½–½ | 45 | on Lichess |
| Game 2 | 27 Nov 2021 | Carlsen, Magnus | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line | E05 | ½–½ | 58 | on Lichess |
| Game 3 | 28 Nov 2021 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Carlsen, Magnus | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall | C88 | ½–½ | 41 | on Lichess |
| Game 4 | 30 Nov 2021 | Carlsen, Magnus | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Staunton Variation | C42 | ½–½ | 33 | on Lichess |
| Game 5 | 1 Dec 2021 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Carlsen, Magnus | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall | C88 | ½–½ | 43 | on Lichess |
| Game 6 | 3 Dec 2021 | Carlsen, Magnus | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan | D02 | 1–0 | 136 | on Lichess |
| Game 7 | 4 Dec 2021 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Carlsen, Magnus | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Anti-Marshall | C88 | ½–½ | 41 | on Lichess |
| Game 8 | 5 Dec 2021 | Carlsen, Magnus | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Variation | C43 | 1–0 | 46 | on Lichess |
| Game 9 | 7 Dec 2021 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Carlsen, Magnus | English Opening: Agincourt Defense | A13 | 0–1 | 39 | on Lichess |
| Game 10 | 8 Dec 2021 | Carlsen, Magnus | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Petrov's Defense: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation | C42 | ½–½ | 41 | on Lichess |
| Game 11 | 10 Dec 2021 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Carlsen, Magnus | Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo | C54 | 0–1 | 49 | on Lichess |
The match on Lichess: official broadcast page.
Game data: Lichess broadcasts · CC BY-SA 4.0
2023: Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Ding, Liren
18 games: 14 classical and 4 tie-break games (time control in the data: 1500+10). Decided in tie-breaks. First moves: 1.e4 8, 1.d4 7, 1.c4 2, 1.Nf3 1. Decisive games: 7 of 18. Average length: 47 moves.
| Game | Date | White | Black | Opening | ECO | Result | Moves | Lichess |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 9 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Delayed Exchange | C85 | ½–½ | 49 | on Lichess |
| Game 2 | 10 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian | E10 | 0–1 | 29 | on Lichess |
| Game 3 | 12 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Reshevsky Variation | D36 | ½–½ | 30 | on Lichess |
| Game 4 | 13 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line | A28 | 1–0 | 47 | on Lichess |
| Game 5 | 15 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation | C84 | 1–0 | 48 | on Lichess |
| Game 6 | 16 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Queen's Pawn Game: London System | D02 | 1–0 | 44 | on Lichess |
| Game 7 | 18 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Euwe-Keres Line | C07 | 1–0 | 37 | on Lichess |
| Game 8 | 20 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation | E28 | ½–½ | 45 | on Lichess |
| Game 9 | 21 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation | C65 | ½–½ | 82 | on Lichess |
| Game 10 | 23 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation | A28 | ½–½ | 45 | on Lichess |
| Game 11 | 24 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation | C84 | ½–½ | 39 | on Lichess |
| Game 12 | 26 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System | D04 | 1–0 | 38 | on Lichess |
| Game 13 | 27 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation | C84 | ½–½ | 40 | on Lichess |
| Game 14 | 29 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation | E46 | ½–½ | 90 | on Lichess |
| Tie-break 1 | 30 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation | D02 | ½–½ | 35 | on Lichess |
| Tie-break 2 | 30 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation | C84 | ½–½ | 47 | on Lichess |
| Tie-break 3 | 30 Apr 2023 | Ding, Liren | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined | A14 | ½–½ | 33 | on Lichess |
| Tie-break 4 | 30 Apr 2023 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | Ding, Liren | Ruy Lopez: Closed, Martinez Variation | C84 | 0–1 | 68 | on Lichess |
The match on Lichess: official broadcast page.
Game data: Lichess broadcasts · CC BY-SA 4.0
2024: Gukesh D – Ding, Liren
14 classical games. First moves: 1.Nf3 4, 1.d4 4, 1.e4 4, 1.c4 2. Decisive games: 5 of 14. Average length: 46 moves.
| Game | Date | White | Black | Opening | ECO | Result | Moves | Lichess |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | 25 Nov 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation | C11 | 0–1 | 42 | on Lichess |
| Game 2 | 26 Nov 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation | C50 | ½–½ | 23 | on Lichess |
| Game 3 | 27 Nov 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation | D02 | 1–0 | 37 | on Lichess |
| Game 4 | 29 Nov 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | Zukertort Opening | A06 | ½–½ | 42 | on Lichess |
| Game 5 | 30 Nov 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | French Defense: Exchange Variation | C01 | ½–½ | 40 | on Lichess |
| Game 6 | 1 Dec 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | Indian Defense: Accelerated London System | A45 | ½–½ | 46 | on Lichess |
| Game 7 | 3 Dec 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | Neo-Grünfeld Defense: Classical Variation, Original Defense | D78 | ½–½ | 72 | on Lichess |
| Game 8 | 4 Dec 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack | A21 | ½–½ | 51 | on Lichess |
| Game 9 | 5 Dec 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation | E11 | ½–½ | 54 | on Lichess |
| Game 10 | 7 Dec 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | Queen's Pawn Game: London System, with e6 | D02 | ½–½ | 36 | on Lichess |
| Game 11 | 8 Dec 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | Réti Opening: Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit | A09 | 1–0 | 29 | on Lichess |
| Game 12 | 9 Dec 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | English Opening: Agincourt Defense | A13 | 1–0 | 39 | on Lichess |
| Game 13 | 11 Dec 2024 | Gukesh D | Ding, Liren | French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation | C11 | ½–½ | 68 | on Lichess |
| Game 14 | 12 Dec 2024 | Ding, Liren | Gukesh D | Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld | A08 | 0–1 | 58 | on Lichess |
The match on Lichess: official broadcast page.
Game data: Lichess broadcasts · CC BY-SA 4.0
The same opening positions in club games, at every Lichess rating level
For each opening page position that these games reached: White's score (wins plus half the draws, divided by games) in rated Lichess games from the Sep 2026 sample, by Lichess rating level.
| Opening page | Under 1200 | 1200–1499 | 1500–1799 | 1800–2099 | 2100+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruy Lopez 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 |
53.3% (1,290) | 53.9% (2,141) | 55.2% (2,199) | 52.3% (1,511) | 51.9% (715) |
| English Opening 1.c4 |
52.3% (941) | 53.3% (2,182) | 53.5% (3,932) | 53.0% (4,212) | 53.8% (2,742) |
| Italian Game 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 |
51.6% (3,545) | 51.3% (5,309) | 52.5% (5,313) | 50.7% (2,626) | 51.7% (704) |
Observed results only: a score above or below 50% says what happened in these games, not why. Club ratings are Lichess ratings; they are not FIDE or Chess.com ratings.
More about the 2026 match
- World Chess Championship 2026: schedule and both players' openings
- Gukesh's openings with White and Black
- Sindarov's openings with White and Black
Download: every title-match game with its opening (CSV, CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sources and credits
Game data: Lichess broadcast database (files of the match months), licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes by Chess Opening Scores: we picked the games of each match by both players' FIDE ids, the broadcast name and the match dates, checked that every round is present and finished, and added opening names and ECO codes from the free Lichess opening list and club statistics. The sections marked "Game data: Lichess broadcasts" are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Opening names: lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0), matched by position. Club statistics: Lichess open database (CC0), 456,087 rated games from the Sep 2026 sample.
Player data: names and game results as published in the Lichess broadcast. To ask for a correction or removal, write to contact@chessopeningscores.com.