Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, Chess.com Classic Winners 2025

Slav Defense (D06) · ½-½ (Draw) · 72 moves · Round 4.1 · 21 May 2025

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
½ – ½
Black
Hikaru Nakamura
♚
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Moves
0 / 144

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackHikaru Nakamura
  • Result½-½ · Draw
  • EventChess.com Classic Winners 2025
  • Round4.1
  • Date21 May 2025
  • OpeningSlav Defense (D06)
  • Length72 moves
  • Type of eventRapid

This is game 375 of 408 between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in the Rama Chess database (2005–2025). In all their games Carlsen leads 144–82 with 182 draws.

Previous game: Nakamura vs Carlsen, 0-1 (Titled Tue 13th May Late, 2025).

Next game: Nakamura vs Carlsen, 0-1 (Chess.com Classic Winners, 2025).

Carlsen vs Nakamura: all 408 gamesAll Carlsen games at Chess.com Classic WinnersCarlsen in the Slav DefenseCarlsen games of 2025Hikaru Nakamura profile

The moves of Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura, Chess.com Classic Winners 2025

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 3.cxd5 Nf6 4.e4 Nxe4 5.dxc5 Qa5+ 6.Bd2 Nxd2 7.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 8.Nxd2 g6 9.Ngf3 Bg7 10.O-O-O O-O 11.Bc4 Bg4 12.Rhe1 Nd7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Nxc5 15.Rxe7 Bf6 16.Re2 Rac8 17.Rc2 Na4 18.b3 Nc3 19.Rd3 Ne4 20.d6 Rfd8 21.d7 Rc6 22.Nd2 Bg5 23.f4 Bxf4 24.Rd4 Bxd2+ 25.Kd1 Ba5 26.Rxe4 Rxd7+ 27.Ke2 Rcd6 28.a4 Kg7 29.Kf3 Rf6+ 30.Rf4 Rfd6 31.g4 a6 32.Re2 Bd2 33.Rfe4 Bg5 34.Kg2 Rd1 35.Rf2 Bh4 36.Rfe2 Rb1 37.Rf4 f6 38.Rf1 Rxf1 39.Kxf1 Kh6 40.Kg2 Kg5 41.Kf3 Rc7 42.Rd2 Kh6 43.Rd6 Re7 44.Re6 Rd7 45.Rb6 Bg5 46.Ke4 Re7+ 47.Re6 Rxe6+ 48.Bxe6 a5 49.Bg8 b6 50.Kf3 Bc1 51.h4 Kg7 52.Bc4 Ba3 53.h5 Bc5 54.hxg6 hxg6 55.Bd3 f5 56.gxf5 gxf5 57.Bxf5 Kf6 58.Ke4 Bb4 59.Bd7 Kg7 60.Bb5 Kf8 61.Kd5 Kg7 62.Kc6 Kf8 63.Kxb6 Kg7 64.Bc4 Kh8 65.Kb5 Kh7 66.Kb6 Kh6 67.Kb5 Kh5 68.Kb6 Kg5 69.Kb5 Kh4 70.Kb6 Kg5 71.Kb5 Kh4 72.Kb6 Kg5 1/2-1/2

This marathon sees Magnus Carlsen take on Hikaru Nakamura at Chess.com Classic Winners in 2025. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

From Slav Defense (D06) the players entered a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.

At 72 moves this was a long, demanding struggle that rewarded stamina and precise endgame technique.

Magnus Carlsen is one of the grandmasters featured in the RamaChess archive, where you can browse their complete game collection, favourite openings and notable wins.

Replaying a complete grandmaster game shows not just the moves, but the order in which plans appear and where the balance finally tips.

When the dust settled, the game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Step through the moves on the interactive board above and try the position trainer to sharpen your own play.

Frequently asked questions

What is the head-to-head record of Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura?

In the 408 games between them in our database (2005 to 2025) Carlsen leads 144–82 with 182 draws. This game is number 375 of 408.

Where and when was Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura played?

At the Chess.com Classic Winners, round 4.1, on 21 May 2025.

Who played this game?

This game was played between Magnus Carlsen (White) and Hikaru Nakamura (Black), at Chess.com Classic Winners in 2025.

What opening was played?

The game used Slav Defense (ECO code D06). A fight over the centre.

What was the result?

The game was drawn between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 72 moves (144 plies).

Can I replay this game move by move?

Yes. Use the interactive board on this page to step through every move, or open the analyser and Practice mode.

Where can I find more games like this?

Browse the full Slav Defense collection, Magnus Carlsen's complete game archive, and thousands more grandmaster games in the RamaChess archive.

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