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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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Damljanovic, Branko vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Villarrobledo rapid op 1997 A07
Shirov, Alexei vs Piket, Jeroen
1-0
Torneo Magistral 6th 1997 C99
Akopian, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Torneo Magistral 6th 1997 A30
Illescas Cordoba, Miguel vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Torneo Magistral 6th 1997 C78
San Segundo, Pablo vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Torneo Magistral 6th 1997 E90
Shirov, Alexei vs Salov, Valery
1/2-1/2
Dos Hermanas 1997 B81
Andersson, Ulf vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Kloosters 1997 B07
Huebner, Robert vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Kloosters 1997 E62
Van Wely, Loek vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Kloosters 1997 E94
Shirov, Alexei vs Andersson, Ulf
1/2-1/2
Yerevan ol (Men) 1996 B81
Shirov, Alexei vs Pablo Marin, Alejandro
1-0
Terrassa sim 1996 B90
Niebling, Ferdinand vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Chess Classics op 1996 B23
Shirov, Alexei vs Brendel, Oliver
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 9596 1996 B36
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Madrid 1996 D44
Illescas Cordoba, Miguel vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Dos Hermanas 1996 B15
Van der Sterren, Paul vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Bundesliga 9596 1996 D49
Schebler, Gerhard vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 9596 1996 E92
Shirov, Alexei vs David, Alberto
1-0
Yerevan ol (Men) 1996 B76
Salov, Valery vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Madrid 1996 B52
Dautov, Rustem vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 9697 1996 D46
Onischuk, Alexander vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Bundesliga 9697 1996 B89
Komarov, Dimitri vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
EUCup f 1996 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Sokolov, Ivan
1-0
Koop Tjuchem 1996 C88
Shirov, Alexei vs Huebner, Robert
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 9596 1996 B49
Ubach, Marcelo vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Terrassa sim 1996 A21
Shirov, Alexei vs Sokolov, Ivan
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1996 C88
Rozentalis, Eduardas vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Yerevan ol (Men) 1996 B22
Shirov, Alexei vs Kabatianski, Alexandr
1-0
Bundesliga 9697 1996 B85
Shirov, Alexei vs Liiva, Riho
1/2-1/2
Tallinn rapid 1996 D31
Shirov, Alexei vs Hertneck, Gerald
1-0
Bundesliga 9596 1996 D17
Shirov, Alexei vs Morovic Fernandez, Ivan
1-0
Yerevan ol (Men) 1996 B47
Hodgson, Julian M vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Koop Tjuchem 1996 A45
Shirov, Alexei vs Appel, Ralf
1-0
Chess Classics op 1996 B05
Piket, Jeroen vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Hoogovens 1996 D98
Malisauskas, Vidmantas vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Tallinn rapid 1996 B66
Greenfeld, Alon vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
EUCup f 1996 B13
Kortschnoj, Viktor vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Madrid 1996 A21
Pomes Marcet, Juan vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Terrassa sim 1996 D02
Huebner, Robert vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Hoogovens 1996 D78
Gonzalez, Anton vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Terrassa sim 1996 D13
Shirov, Alexei vs Reinemer, Frank
0-1
Chess Classics op 1996 A87
Jansa, Vlastimil vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
EUCup Gr4 1996 B92
Shirov, Alexei vs Wahls, Matthias
1-0
Bundesliga 9697 1996 C99
Kortschnoj, Viktor vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Koop Tjuchem 1996 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Glek, Igor V
1-0
Bundesliga 9596 1996 C11
Rytshagov, Mikhail vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Tallinn rapid 1996 C78
Chernin, Alexander vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Moscow PCA-GP blitz 1996 D00
Shirov, Alexei vs Van Wely, Loek
0-1
Koop Tjuchem 1996 B81
Van Wely, Loek vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Hoogovens 1996 D92
Palkovi, Jozsef vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Bundesliga 9596 1996 B06
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