Magnus Collection › Openings › Vienna Game
Opening · 29 games
Magnus Carlsen in the Vienna Game
29 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Vienna Game, 2003 to 2025: 18 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses. Every game can be replayed move by move.
Quick answer · Updated October 2026
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Vienna Game?
Yes. Magnus Carlsen has played the Vienna Game in 29 games in our database (2003–2025): 18 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses, a score of 67.2%. He had it 10 times with White (8–0–2) and 19 times with Black (10–3–6).
| Type of event | Games | Carlsen won | Drawn | Opponent won | Carlsen score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Rapid | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Blitz and bullet | 22 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 68.2% |
| Armageddon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Other events | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 75.0% |
| All games | 29 | 18 | 3 | 8 | 67.2% |
First game in our databaseP Johansen vs Magnus Carlsen · Troll Masters · 10 January 2003 · 0-1
Latest gameMagnus Carlsen vs Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo · Titled Tue 11th Nov 2025 · 11 November 2025 · 1-0
Classical games2: 1–0–1 (won–drawn–lost)
His most played move order1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Na5 (8 games)
Busiest year2023, with 7 games
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 Vienna Game: the starting moves
In his own games the line he reached most often is 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Na5 (8 games).
Best wins
Magnus Carlsen's Vienna Game wins against top players
- Magnus Carlsen vs Le Tuan Minh, 1-0chess.com SpeedChess 2024 · 26 July 2024 · Blitz and bullet · 30 moves
- Magnus Carlsen vs Andrew Tang, 1-0Bullet Chess Losers 2023 · 20 July 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 5 moves
- Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1chess.com SpeedChess 2023 · 15 September 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 27 moves
- Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1chess.com SpeedChess 2023 · 19 September 2023 · Blitz and bullet · 23 moves
- Vladislav Artemiev vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1DM Carlsen-Artemiev 2021 · 21 April 2021 · Other events · 53 moves
- Olexandr Bortnyk vs Magnus Carlsen, 0-1Katara Bullet Final 2021 · 23 June 2021 · Blitz and bullet · 30 moves
Results by year
The Vienna Game by year (2003–2025)
Carlsen wonDrawnOpponent won
Record · Updated October 2026
Magnus Carlsen's record in the Vienna Game
The Rama Chess archive holds 29 games in which Magnus Carlsen played the Vienna Game, from 2003 to 2025. He won 18, drew 3 and lost 8, a score of 67.2%. The games come from all time controls (classical, rapid and blitz).
He has had this opening on the board with both colours: 10 games as White (8 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses) and 19 games as Black (10 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses).
His most frequent opponents here are Hikaru Nakamura (5), Alireza Firouzja (2), Andrew Tang (2). The earliest game is from 2003 (Troll Masters) and the most recent from 2025 (Titled Tue 4th Mar Early). The ECO code seen most often is C28.
By colour
With White and with Black
| Carlsen played | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 80% |
| Black | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 61% |
| All games | 29 | 18 | 3 | 8 | 67% |
Year by year
Vienna Game games by year
| Year | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| 2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25% |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 60% |
| 2023 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 79% |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Opponents
Who he played most in the Vienna Game
Hikaru Nakamura · 5Alireza Firouzja · 2Andrew Tang · 2Ian Nepomniachtchi · 2P Johansen · 1E Sedina · 1Lu Shanglei · 1Rauf Mamedov · 1
All 29 games: Magnus Carlsen in the Vienna Game
Year
Game
ECO
Result
2003
P Johansen vs Magnus Carlsen
Troll Masters
C26
0–1
2003
E Sedina vs Magnus Carlsen
11th Aosta Open
C26
1–0
2013
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
Supreme Masters 2013
C28
½–½
2014
Lu Shanglei vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE World Blitz 2014
C25
1–0
2014
Rauf Mamedov vs Magnus Carlsen
FIDE World Blitz 2014
C25
0–1
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Blitz Final 1m+1spm 2016
C28
1–0
2016
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com Blitz Final 1m+1spm 2016
C28
½–½
2017
Magnus Carlsen vs Yu Yangyi
World Blitz 2017
C25
0–1
2019
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen
Saint Louis Blitz 2019
C25
0–1
2020
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup
C28
1–0
2021
Magnus Carlsen vs Andrew Tang
Carlsen-Tang Bullet 2021
C29
0–1
2021
Vladislav Artemiev vs Magnus Carlsen
DM Carlsen-Artemiev 2021
C28
0–1
2021
Olexandr Bortnyk vs Magnus Carlsen
Katara Bullet Final 2021
C28
0–1
2021
Alireza Firouzja vs Magnus Carlsen
Goldmoney Asian Prelim
C26
1–0
2021
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen
9th Norway Armageddon
C28
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs A Mikaelyan
Titled Tue 7th Feb Late
C25
1–0
2023
Carissa Yip vs Magnus Carlsen
PRO League Prelim 2023
C28
0–1
2023
Magnus Carlsen vs Andrew Tang
Bullet Chess Losers 2023
C28
1–0
2023
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
Bullet Chess Winners 2023
C25
1–0
2023
Hikaru Nakamura vs Magnus Carlsen
Bullet Chess Winners 2023
C28
½–½
2023
Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C28
0–1
2023
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
chess.com SpeedChess 2023
C26
0–1
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs Le Tuan Minh
chess.com SpeedChess 2024
C25
1–0
2024
Magnus Carlsen vs I Goncalves
Titled Tue 13th Aug Early
C25
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs A Alonso Rosell
Titled Tue 4th Mar Early
C25
1–0
2025
Seyed Abolfazl Moosavifar vs Magnus Carlsen
Titled Tue 29th Apr Early
C28
0–1
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Nikolozi Kacharava
Titled Tue 24th Jun Early
C26
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Nagare Kaivalya Sandip
Titled Tue 7th Oct 2025
C26
1–0
2025
Magnus Carlsen vs Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo
Titled Tue 11th Nov 2025
C26
1–0
Questions
Magnus Carlsen and the Vienna Game: questions and answers
Does Magnus Carlsen play the Vienna Game?
Yes. Our database has 29 games of Magnus Carlsen in the Vienna Game from 2003–2025: 10 with White and 19 with Black.
What is Magnus Carlsen's record in the Vienna Game?
18 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses in 29 games, a score of 67.2%. With White 8–0–2, with Black 10–3–6 (won–drawn–lost).
Has Magnus Carlsen played the Vienna Game in classical chess?
Yes, 2 games in classical events in our database (1–0–1). The other games come from rapid, blitz and other events.
Which line of the Vienna Game does Carlsen play most?
The move order seen most often in his games is 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Na5 (8 games).
What are Magnus Carlsen's best Vienna Game games?
Good places to start are his wins against top players: Magnus Carlsen vs Le Tuan Minh (chess.com SpeedChess 2024, 2024); Magnus Carlsen vs Andrew Tang (Bullet Chess Losers 2023, 2023); Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Magnus Carlsen (chess.com SpeedChess 2023, 2023); Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen (chess.com SpeedChess 2023, 2023).
When did Magnus Carlsen last play the Vienna Game?
The latest game in our database is Magnus Carlsen vs Fy Antenaina Rakotomaharo at the Titled Tue 11th Nov 2025 (11 November 2025), result 1-0.
Can I replay Magnus Carlsen's Vienna Game games?
Yes. All 29 games are listed on this page. Each one opens on a board where you can step through the moves, check them with the engine, or practise the position.
All numbers count the games in the Rama Chess database (2001 to 2025), not every game he has ever played.