Magnus Carlsen in the Sicilian Defense
1271 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Sicilian Defense, 2001 to 2025: 687 wins, 390 draws, 194 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Sicilian Defense?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Sicilian Defense in 1,271 games in our database (2001–2025): 687 wins, 390 draws and 194 losses, a score of 69.4%. He had it 639 times with White (383–170–86) and 632 times with Black (304–220–108).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 285 | 119 | 124 | 42 | 63.5% |
| Rapid | 274 | 119 | 109 | 46 | 63.3% |
| Blitz and bullet | 538 | 360 | 100 | 78 | 76.2% |
| Knockout tie-breaks | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25.0% |
| Armageddon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Other events | 169 | 88 | 55 | 26 | 68.3% |
| All games | 1271 | 687 | 390 | 194 | 69.4% |
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 Sicilian Defense: the starting moves

In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (253 games).
Magnus Carlsen's Sicilian Defense wins against top players
- Magnus Carlsen vs Alexey Sarana, 1-038th ECC Open 2023 · 4 October 2023 · Classical · 43 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Vincent Keymer, 1-038th ECC Open 2023 · 5 October 2023 · Classical · 29 moves
- Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-184th Tata Steel Masters · 29 January 2022 · Classical · 49 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Etienne Bacrot, 1-0FIDE World Cup 2021 · 29 July 2021 · Classical · 39 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Grischuk, 1-0FIDE Steinitz Mem Open · 17 May 2020 · Classical · 47 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Richard Rapport, 1-081st Tata Steel GpA · 20 January 2019 · Classical · 40 moves
The Sicilian Defense by year (2001–2025)
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Sicilian Defense
The Rama Chess archive holds 1271 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Sicilian Defense, from 2001 to 2025. He won 687, drew 390 and lost 194, a score of 69.4%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 639 games as White (383 wins, 170 draws, 86 losses) and 632 games as Black (304 wins, 220 draws, 108 losses).
His most frequent opponents here are Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (59), Hikaru Nakamura (50), Fabiano Caruana (49). The earliest game is from 2001 (Troll Masters) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 7th Jan Late). The ECO code seen most often is B30.
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 639 | 383 | 170 | 86 | 73% |
| Black | 632 | 304 | 220 | 108 | 66% |
| All games | 1271 | 687 | 390 | 194 | 69% |
Sicilian Defense games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 42% |
| 2002 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 53% |
| 2003 | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 67% |
| 2004 | 37 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 55% |
| 2005 | 26 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 48% |
| 2006 | 48 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 69% |
| 2007 | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 63% |
| 2008 | 33 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 59% |
| 2009 | 36 | 14 | 18 | 4 | 64% |
| 2010 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 60% |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 50% |
| 2012 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 74% |
| 2013 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 58% |
| 2014 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 78% |
| 2015 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 74% |
| 2016 | 26 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 62% |
| 2017 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 72% |
| 2018 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 68% |
| 2019 | 61 | 28 | 26 | 7 | 67% |
| 2020 | 111 | 45 | 43 | 23 | 60% |
| 2021 | 105 | 57 | 33 | 15 | 70% |
| 2022 | 63 | 38 | 20 | 5 | 76% |
| 2023 | 170 | 104 | 43 | 23 | 74% |
| 2024 | 161 | 108 | 32 | 21 | 77% |
| 2025 | 142 | 102 | 25 | 15 | 81% |
Who he played most in the Sicilian Defense
All 1,271 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Sicilian Defense
Magnus Carlsen and the Sicilian Defense: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Sicilian Defense?
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Sicilian Defense?
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Sicilian Defense in classical chess?
Which line of the Sicilian Defense does Carlsen play most?
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Sicilian Defense games?
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Sicilian Defense?
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Sicilian Defense games?
All numbers count the games in the Rama Chess database (2001 to 2025), not every game he has ever played.