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

Slav Defense (D06) · 1-0 (Magnus Carlsen won) · 53 moves · Round 4.3 · 21 May 2025

♔
White
Magnus Carlsen
1 – 0
Black
Hikaru Nakamura
♚
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Moves
0 / 105

About This Game

Game summary

  • WhiteMagnus Carlsen
  • BlackHikaru Nakamura
  • Result1-0 · Magnus Carlsen won
  • EventChess.com Classic Winners 2025
  • Round4.3
  • Date21 May 2025
  • OpeningSlav Defense (D06)
  • Length53 moves
  • Type of eventRapid

This is game 378 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, ½-½ (Chess.com Classic Winners, 2025).

Next game: Nakamura vs Carlsen, ½-½ (13th Norway Chess 2025, 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.b4 a5 14.Rxe7 axb4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Rxd7 Bxd1 17.Kxd1 Bd4 18.Ne4 Bxc5 19.d6 b6 20.Ng5 Kg7 21.f4 h6 22.Ne6+ Kf6 23.Nxf8 Rxf8 24.Ke2 g5 25.Kf3 gxf4 26.Kxf4 h5 27.g4 hxg4 28.hxg4 Kg6 29.Bb3 Bg1 30.Bc2+ Kf6 31.Bb3 Bh2+ 32.Ke4 Kg5 33.Kd5 Kxg4 34.Re7 Rc8 35.d7 Rc5+ 36.Kd4 Bc7 37.Rxf7 Rc6 38.Rf8 Rd6+ 39.Ke4 Kg5 40.Ba4 b5 41.Bxb5 Rd2 42.Rc8 Bb6 43.Ra8 Bc7 44.Ra6 Bd8 45.Ra8 Bb6 46.Ke5 Bc7+ 47.Ke6 Kg6 48.Rg8+ Kh7 49.Rc8 Bb6 50.Ra8 Kg7 51.Bc4 Bc7 52.Rc8 Bb6 53.Bd5 1-0

In this encounter Magnus Carlsen had the white pieces against Hikaru Nakamura at Chess.com Classic Winners in 2025. The game dates from the contemporary engine era.

The game opened with Slav Defense (D06), a fight over the centre. Here the struggle often turns on the central pawns and minor-piece play.

Running to 53 moves, the game moved through a full middlegame into an endgame, showing how an advantage is carried between phases.

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.

Working through a full game like this trains pattern recognition — the more you study, the faster you spot familiar ideas in your own play.

After the contest, Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces. Use the board above to replay every move, switch to the analyser for engine evaluation, or open Practice mode to test your own ideas.

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 378 of 408.

Where and when was Magnus Carlsen vs Hikaru Nakamura played?

At the Chess.com Classic Winners, round 4.3, 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?

Magnus Carlsen won with the white pieces.

How long was the game?

The game lasted 53 moves (105 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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