Magnus Carlsen in the Ruy Lopez
727 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Ruy Lopez, 2001 to 2025: 311 wins, 308 draws, 108 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Ruy Lopez?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Ruy Lopez in 727 games in our database (2001–2025): 311 wins, 308 draws and 108 losses, a score of 64.0%. He had it 357 times with White (188–123–46) and 370 times with Black (123–185–62).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 236 | 82 | 133 | 21 | 62.9% |
| Rapid | 184 | 72 | 82 | 30 | 61.4% |
| Blitz and bullet | 228 | 116 | 64 | 48 | 64.9% |
| Knockout tie-breaks | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% |
| Armageddon | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Other events | 71 | 34 | 28 | 9 | 67.6% |
| All games | 727 | 311 | 308 | 108 | 64.0% |
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 Ruy Lopez: the starting moves

In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 (391 games).
Magnus Carlsen's Ruy Lopez wins against top players
- Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja, 1-012th Norway Chess 2024 · 1 June 2024 · Classical · 82 moves
- Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-185th Tata Steel Masters · 22 January 2023 · Classical · 33 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Vincent Keymer, 1-0FIDE World Cup 2023 · 10 August 2023 · Classical · 62 moves
- Vassily Ivanchuk vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1FIDE World Cup 2023 · 13 August 2023 · Classical · 43 moves
- Etienne Bacrot vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1FIDE World Cup 2021 · 28 July 2021 · Classical · 44 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Alireza Firouzja, 1-09th Norway Chess 2021 · 13 September 2021 · Classical · 52 moves
The Ruy Lopez by year (2001–2025)
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Ruy Lopez
The Rama Chess archive holds 727 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Ruy Lopez, from 2001 to 2025. He won 311, drew 308 and lost 108, a score of 64.0%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 357 games as White (188 wins, 123 draws, 46 losses) and 370 games as Black (123 wins, 185 draws, 62 losses).
His most frequent opponents here are Hikaru Nakamura (72), Viswanathan Anand (41), Fabiano Caruana (40). The earliest game is from 2001 (Open NOR-ch) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 21st Jan Late). The ECO code seen most often is C65.
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 357 | 188 | 123 | 46 | 70% |
| Black | 370 | 123 | 185 | 62 | 58% |
| All games | 727 | 311 | 308 | 108 | 64% |
Ruy Lopez games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
| 2003 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 92% |
| 2004 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 71% |
| 2005 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 68% |
| 2006 | 29 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 72% |
| 2007 | 31 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 53% |
| 2008 | 25 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 50% |
| 2009 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 68% |
| 2010 | 26 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 60% |
| 2011 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 68% |
| 2012 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 75% |
| 2013 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 67% |
| 2014 | 19 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 63% |
| 2015 | 27 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 63% |
| 2016 | 39 | 16 | 18 | 5 | 64% |
| 2017 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 75% |
| 2018 | 17 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 59% |
| 2019 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 61% |
| 2020 | 71 | 30 | 26 | 15 | 61% |
| 2021 | 74 | 25 | 39 | 10 | 60% |
| 2022 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 8 | 67% |
| 2023 | 94 | 43 | 34 | 17 | 64% |
| 2024 | 47 | 25 | 14 | 8 | 68% |
| 2025 | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 65% |
Who he played most in the Ruy Lopez
All 727 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Ruy Lopez
Magnus Carlsen and the Ruy Lopez: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Ruy Lopez?
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Ruy Lopez?
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Ruy Lopez in classical chess?
Which line of the Ruy Lopez does Carlsen play most?
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Ruy Lopez games?
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Ruy Lopez?
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Ruy Lopez games?
All numbers count the games in the Rama Chess database (2001 to 2025), not every game he has ever played.