Magnus Carlsen in the Italian Game

202 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Italian Game, 2007 to 2025: 85 wins, 84 draws, 33 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.

Quick answer · Updated October 2026

Does Magnus Carlsen play the Italian Game?

Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Italian Game in 202 games in our database (2007–2025): 85 wins, 84 draws and 33 losses, a score of 62.9%. He had it 84 times with White (39–37–8) and 118 times with Black (46–47–25).

Type of event	Games	Carlsen won	Drawn	Opponent won	Carlsen score
Classical	29	6	22	1	58.6%
Rapid	76	30	35	11	62.5%
Blitz and bullet	69	34	18	17	62.3%
Knockout tie-breaks	4	2	1	1	62.5%
Armageddon	7	4	1	2	64.3%
Other events	17	9	7	1	73.5%
All games	202	85	84	33	62.9%

First game in our databaseK Kulaots vs Magnus Carlsen · Chess Classic GM · 18 April 2007 · ½-½

Latest gameMagnus Carlsen vs Javokhir Sindarov · World Blitz 2025 · 29 December 2025 · ½-½

Classical games29: 6–22–1 (won–drawn–lost)

His most played move order1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 (62 games)

Busiest year2021, with 44 games

Replay all 202 games Magnus Carlsen profile All Magnus openings Learn the Italian Game Practice it in the trainer

Source: the Rama Chess database of 7,484 Magnus Carlsen games, 2001 to 2025 (many of his games, not all of them). Opening names follow the ECO code of each game. The type of event is read from the event name.

The opening

The Italian Game: the starting moves

Italian Game chess opening position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, board diagram — The Italian Game starts with **1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4**.

In his own games the line he reached most often is **1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6** (62 games).

Best wins

Magnus Carlsen's Italian Game wins against top players

Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-112th Norway Chess 2024 · 30 May 2024 · Classical · 66 moves
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1WCh 2021 · 10 December 2021 · Classical · 49 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Wesley So, 1-07th Sinquefield Cup 2019 · 27 August 2019 · Classical · 43 moves
Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, 1-03rd London Chess Classic · 5 December 2011 · Classical · 41 moves
Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-113th Norway Armageddon · 31 May 2025 · Armageddon · 56 moves
Hans Niemann vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Titled Tue 17th Jun Early · 17 June 2025 · Blitz and bullet · 60 moves

Results by year

The Italian Game by year (2007–2025)

Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won

Record · Updated October 2026

Magnus Carlsen's record in the Italian Game

The Rama Chess archive holds 202 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Italian Game, from 2007 to 2025. He won 85, drew 84 and lost 33, a score of 62.9%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).

He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 84 games as White (39 wins, 37 draws, 8 losses) and 118 games as Black (46 wins, 47 draws, 25 losses).

His most frequent opponents here are Wesley So (26), Hikaru Nakamura (14), Levon Aronian (11). The earliest game is from 2007 (Chess Classic GM) and the most recent from 2025 (Chessable Masters Winners). The ECO code seen most often is C50.

Replay the games Magnus Carlsen profile All his openings Learn openings

By colour

With White and with Black

Carlsen played	Games	Won	Drawn	Lost	Score
White	84	39	37	8	68%
Black	118	46	47	25	59%
All games	202	85	84	33	63%

Year by year

Italian Game games by year

Year	Games	Won	Drawn	Lost	Score
2007	2	0	2	0	50%
2008	1	0	1	0	50%
2009	3	1	1	1	50%
2010	1	1	0	0	100%
2011	2	1	1	0	75%
2012	3	3	0	0	100%
2014	5	3	2	0	80%
2015	3	1	2	0	67%
2016	11	5	5	1	68%
2017	19	5	10	4	53%
2018	5	2	3	0	70%
2019	1	1	0	0	100%
2020	22	11	6	5	64%
2021	44	13	22	9	55%
2022	20	7	8	5	55%
2023	14	6	3	5	54%
2024	31	16	13	2	73%
2025	15	9	5	1	77%