Forever Chess GamesForever Chess Games Logo
CreateGiftsProductsGamesPlayersOpeningsTop 100FAQ

Explore

  • Players
  • Openings
  • Famous Games
  • Top 100 Games
  • World Championships

Create

  • Create Visualisation
  • How It Works
  • Gift Ideas

Eras

  • 1880s – Classical
  • 1960s – Fischer Era
  • 1990s – Kasparov Era
  • 2020s – Modern

Info

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

© 2026 Forever Chess Games. All Rights Reserved

  1. Home
  2. /Players
  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

View Print
FCGFCG
0-1

Topalov,V vs Shirov,A

FIDE WCh KO

2001

View Print
FCGFCG
0-1

Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily

Linares 14th

1997

View Print
FCGFCG
0-1

Hauchard, Arnaud vs Shirov, Alexei

Wch U20

1990

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei

Amber-rapid 5th

1996

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Shirov, Alexei

Amber-blind 5th

1996

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Gdanski, Jacek vs Shirov, Alexei

Wch U20

1989

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir

Amber-rapid 5th

1996

View Print
FCGFCG
1-0

Shirov,A vs Rapport,R

42nd Olympiad 2016

2016

View Print
FCGFCG
0-1

Rizouk,A vs Shirov,A

FIDE WCh KO

2001

View Print

Games (6011)

Search & Filter All Games →
Shirov,A vs Rublevsky,S
1/2-1/2
20th ECC 2004 B54
Huzman,A vs Shirov,A
0-1
20th ECC 2004 D14
Pinter,J vs Shirov,A
0-1
20th ECC 2004 D85
Shirov,A vs Kristjansson,St
1-0
20th ECC 2004 C16
Shirov,A vs Perunovic,Mil
1/2-1/2
TCh-BIH 2004 B31
Ruck,R vs Shirov,A
0-1
TCh-BIH 2004 D17
Shirov,A vs Predojevic,B
1-0
Bosnia GM 2004 B31
Movsesian,S vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Bosnia GM 2004 C45
Shirov,A vs Bologan,V
1-0
Bosnia GM 2004 C43
Shirov,A vs Atalik,S
1-0
Bosnia GM 2004 C96
Dizdarevic,E vs Shirov,A
0-1
Bosnia GM 2004 A49
Shirov,A vs Sokolov,I
1/2-1/2
Bosnia GM 2004 C96
Kozul,Z vs Shirov,A
0-1
Bosnia GM 2004 D47
Shirov,A vs Kurajica,B
1-0
Bosnia GM 2004 B01
Delchev,A vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
TCh-FRA Nat1 Final 2004 D15
Shirov,A vs Van Wely,L
0-1
Bundesliga Playoff 2003-4 2004 B31
Shirov,A vs Gurevich,M
1/2-1/2
TCh-FRA Nat1 Final 2004 C02
Shirov,A vs Gustafsson,J
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 2003-4 2004 B12
Shirov,A vs Tregubov,P
1/2-1/2
TCh-FRA Nat1 GpB 2004 A59
Shirov,A vs Vallejo Pons,F
1/2-1/2
XXI SuperGM 2004 D87
Vallejo Pons,F vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
XXI SuperGM 2004 C88
Nielsen,PH vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 2003-4 2004 D17
Shchekachev,A vs Shirov,A
0-1
TCh-FRA Nat1 GpB 2004 D17
Shirov,A vs Dorfman,J
1-0
TCh-FRA Nat1 GpB 2004 C99
Shirov,A vs Bologan,V
0-1
GMA 2004 C42
Van Wely,L vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
GMA 2004 D19
Shirov,A vs Akopian,Vl
1/2-1/2
GMA 2004 C99
Shirov,A vs Sokolov,I
1-0
GMA 2004 C72
Bareev,E vs Shirov,A
1-0
GMA 2004 E05
Shirov,A vs Zhang Zhong
1/2-1/2
GMA 2004 C92
Shirov,A vs Sveshnikov,E
1-0
Keres Mem Rapid 2004 B32
Shirov,A vs Sulskis,S
1-0
Keres Mem Rapid 2004 C62
Brodsky,M vs Shirov,A
0-1
Keres Mem Rapid 2004 B31
Shirov,A vs Dreev,A
1-0
Keres Mem Rapid 2004 B12
Rozentalis,E vs Shirov,A
1-0
Keres Mem Rapid 2004 B31
Shirov,A vs Rytshagov,M
1-0
Keres Mem Rapid 2004 C26
Shirov,A vs Bacrot,E
1-0
Bundesliga 2003-4 2003 C89
Hracek,Z vs Shirov,A
0-1
Bundesliga 2003-4 2003 B33
Kindermann,S vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 2003-4 2003 C68
Shirov,A vs Bischoff,K
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 2003-4 2003 B56
Tkachiev,V vs Shirov,A
0-1
Corsica Masters KO 2003 D12
Shirov,A vs Tkachiev,V
1/2-1/2
Corsica Masters KO 2003 C99
Tkachiev,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Corsica Masters KO 2003 D12
Tkachiev,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Corsica Masters KO 2003 D12
Shirov,A vs Tkachiev,V
1-0
Corsica Masters KO 2003 B07
Shirov,A vs Lautier,J
1-0
GpB 2003 B83
Delchev,A vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
EuTCh 2003 B35
Kozul,Z vs Shirov,A
0-1
EuTCh 2003 D10
Shirov,A vs Azmaiparashvili,Z
1/2-1/2
EuTCh 2003 C41
Speelman,J vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
EuTCh 2003 D46
PreviousPage 102 of 121Next

Explore More

All PlayersAll OpeningsFamous Games