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  3. /Shirov, Alexei

Shirov, Alexei

modern era

Alexei Shirov is one of the most spectacular tacticians in chess history, a protege of fellow Latvian and former World Champion Mikhail Tal. His best games collection "Fire on Board" became a classic of chess literature, showcasing his brilliant sacrifices and combinational vision. Shirov defeated Kramnik in a 1998 Candidates match to earn a World Championship challenge against Kasparov, though the match never materialized.

Total Games

6011

Wins

2877

Draws

2020

Losses

1114

47.9% wins33.6% draws18.5% losses

Most Played Openings

B90 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation238C02 - French Defense: Advance Variation213C78 - Ruy Lopez: Brix Variation208B12 - Caro-Kann Defense202C42 - Petrov's Defense149D45 - Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line140B33 - Sicilian Defense: Open115C67 - Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Berlin Wall108C11 - French Defense: Steinitz Variation103D12 - Slav Defense: Quiet Variation, Landau Variation90

Most Faced Opponents

Anand,V63 gamesIvanchuk,V54 gamesTopalov,V48 gamesKramnik,V47 gamesKramnik, Vladimir46 gamesGelfand,B43 gamesIvanchuk, Vassily38 gamesLeko,P35 gamesAnand, Viswanathan33 gamesGelfand, Boris32 games

Featured Games

FCGFCG
1-0

Shirov,A vs Kotronias,V

WCC

2005

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FCGFCG
0-1

Topalov,V vs Shirov,A

FIDE WCh KO

2001

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FCGFCG
0-1

Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily

Linares 14th

1997

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FCGFCG
0-1

Hauchard, Arnaud vs Shirov, Alexei

Wch U20

1990

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FCGFCG
1-0

Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei

Amber-rapid 5th

1996

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FCGFCG
1-0

Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Shirov, Alexei

Amber-blind 5th

1996

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FCGFCG
1-0

Gdanski, Jacek vs Shirov, Alexei

Wch U20

1989

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FCGFCG
1-0

Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir

Amber-rapid 5th

1996

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FCGFCG
1-0

Shirov,A vs Rapport,R

42nd Olympiad 2016

2016

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FCGFCG
0-1

Rizouk,A vs Shirov,A

FIDE WCh KO

2001

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Games (6011)

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Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Biel 1992 D46
Shirov, Alexei vs Karpov, Anatoly★
0-1
Biel 1992 E25
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Biel 1991 B72
Shirov, Alexei vs Adams, Michael★
1-0
Biel 1991 E20
Shirov, Alexei vs Alterman, Boris★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1990 B36
Moutousis, Konstantinos vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1990 B70
Pedzich, Dominik vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1990 B52
Khalifman, Alexander vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Manila Interzonal 1990 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Gurevich, Ilya★
0-1
Wch U20 1990 D87
Lutz, Christopher vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1990 E98
Shirov, Alexei vs Minero Pineda, Sergio★
1-0
Wch U20 1990 E97
Sherzer, Alex vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1990 B78
Akopian, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1990 E98
Shirov, Alexei vs Varga, Zoltan★
1-0
Wch U20 1990 D20
Shirov, Alexei vs Hernandez, Gilberto★
1-0
Wch U20 1990 E90
Shirov, Alexei vs Grigore, George★
1-0
Wch U20 1990 A53
Shirov, Alexei vs Ulibin, Mikhail★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1990 E25
Hauchard, Arnaud vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1990 E32
Shirov, Alexei vs Ulibin, Mikhail★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1989 D73
Shirov, Alexei vs Zulu, D.★
1-0
Wch U20 1989 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Rodriguez, Andres★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1989 A50
Shirov, Alexei vs Stangl, Markus★
1-0
Wch U20 1989 B06
Shirov, Alexei vs Sorensen, Jan★
1-0
Wch U20 1989 A57
Manor, Ilan vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1989 A48
Van Wely, Loek vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1989 E97
Rios, Alejandro vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1989 B78
Gdanski, Jacek vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Wch U20 1989 B56
Shirov, Alexei vs Huda, Rehan★
1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1989 A57
Miguel, Victor vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch U20 1989 A07
Shirov,A vs Roebers,Eline
0-1
28th Hoogeveen Crown 2025 C07
L'Ami,E vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
28th Hoogeveen Crown 2025 E06
Naiditsch,A vs Shirov,A
1-0
28th Hoogeveen Crown 2025 C01
Shirov,A vs L'Ami,E
0-1
28th Hoogeveen Crown 2025 B27
Roebers,Eline vs Shirov,A
0-1
28th Hoogeveen Crown 2025 B90
Shirov,A vs Naiditsch,A
1-0
28th Hoogeveen Crown 2025 A45
Shirov,A vs Giri,A
0-1
25th European Teams 2025 B90
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 2025 C78
Shirov,A vs Gelfand,B
1/2-1/2
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 2025 B30
Shirov,A vs Ivanchuk,V
1/2-1/2
TCh-ESP Div Honor 2025 2025 C84
Shirov,A vs Kamsky,G
1/2-1/2
German Team Cup 2025 2025 A87
Rapport,R vs Shirov,A
1-0
FIDE World Rapid Team 2025 C00
Shirov,A vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek
1/2-1/2
FIDE World Rapid Team 2025 B38
Duda,J vs Shirov,A
1-0
Titled Tue 27th May Early 2025 D02
Shirov,A vs Le,Minh Hoang
1-0
Titled Tue 13th May Early 2025 D20
Shirov,A vs Le,Minh Hoang
0-1
Titled Tue 1st Apr Early 2025 B28
Shirov,A vs Gukesh,D
0-1
Titled Tue 18th Mar Early 2025 B12
Firouzja,Alireza vs Shirov,A
1-0
Titled Tue 18th Mar Early 2025 C11
Shirov,A vs Erigaisi,Arjun
1/2-1/2
Titled Tue 4th Mar Late 2025 C02
Carlsen,M vs Shirov,A
1-0
Titled Tue 4th Mar Late 2025 C11
Shirov,A vs Le,Quang Liem
0-1
Titled Tue 18th Feb Late 2025 C70
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