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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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Anastasian, Ashot vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Frunze op 1989 A34
Lukin, Andrei M vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
URS-sf 1989 B89
Ruzele, Darius vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-chTJ 1989 D13
Shirov, Alexei vs Dautov, Rustem
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 C67
Hector, Jonny vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Val Maubuee 1989 B89
Rozentalis, Eduardas vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 A48
Shirov, Alexei vs Flear, Glenn C
1/2-1/2
Val Maubuee 1989 D39
Shirov, Alexei vs Dautov, Rustem
1-0
URS-sf 1989 E20
Shirov, Alexei vs Andruet, Gilles
1-0
Val Maubuee 1989 A57
Tiviakov, Sergei vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Frunze op 1989 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Magomedov, Magaram
1-0
Frunze op 1989 D31
Shirov, Alexei vs Bologan, Viktor
1/2-1/2
URS-chTJ 1989 D10
Serper, Grigory vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 B58
Shirov, Alexei vs Tseshkovsky, Vitaly
0-1
GMA-Open 1989 E66
Abramovic, Bosko vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Val Maubuee 1989 B24
Bagaturov, Giorgi vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Frunze op 1989 E77
Shirov, Alexei vs Ambarcumjan, Armen
1-0
Frunze op 1989 D35
Fusthy, Zsolt vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Spring op 1989 B52
Shirov, Alexei vs Gosic, Bogdan
0-1
Spring op 1989 E13
Neverov, Valeriy vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
URS-ch U26 1989 E41
Smirin, Ilia vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 C92
Shirov, Alexei vs Epishin, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 D87
Aseev, Konstantin N vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 B66
Akopian, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-chTJ 1989 B58
Sellos, Didier vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Val Maubuee 1989 B76
Shirov, Alexei vs Forintos, Gyozo V
1-0
Spring op 1989 A40
Boudre, Jean Pierre vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Val Maubuee 1989 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Akopian, Vladimir
1-0
URS-ch U26 1989 D85
Sepp, Olav vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-chTJ 1989 B50
Vreeken, Corry vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
GMA-Open 1989 B53
Shirov, Alexei vs Gligoric, Svetozar
1-0
GMA-Open 1989 E74
Kholmov, Ratmir D vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Spring op 1989 B66
Ubilava, Elizbar vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-sf 1989 D44
Rozentalis, Eduardas vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 C42
Kengis, Edvins vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 B50
Gofman, Alex vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-chTJ 1989 E92
Oll, Lembit vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 D74
Shirov, Alexei vs Kupreichik, Viktor D
1-0
Val Maubuee 1989 D38
Timoshenko, Georgy vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
GMA-Open 1989 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Kengis, Edvins
1/2-1/2
Frunze op 1989 D14
Gheorghiu, Florin vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
GMA-Open 1989 E81
Dreev, Alexey vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 D75
Shirov, Alexei vs Minasian, Artashes
1-0
Frunze op 1989 E75
Kosten, Anthony C vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Val Maubuee 1989 B23
Timoshenko, Georgy vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
URS-ch U26 1989 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Akopian, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Magomedov, Magaram
1-0
URS-sf 1989 D31
Shirov, Alexei vs Epishin, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 E94
Yuneev, Alexey vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Frunze op 1989 E92
Shirov, Alexei vs Kupreichik, Viktor D
1-0
URS-sf 1989 D34
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