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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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Sepp, Olav vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-chTJ 1989 B50
Sellos, Didier vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Val Maubuee 1989 B76
Shirov, Alexei vs Giorgadze, Giorgi
1-0
URS-ch U26 1989 A08
Shirov, Alexei vs Anastasian, Ashot
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 B26
Shirov, Alexei vs Ambarcumjan, Armen
1-0
Frunze op 1989 D35
Serper, Grigory vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-ch U26 1989 B58
Shirov, Alexei vs Dautov, Rustem
1-0
URS-sf 1989 E20
Ruzele, Darius vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-chTJ 1989 D13
Shirov, Alexei vs Flear, Glenn C
1/2-1/2
Val Maubuee 1989 D39
Shirov, Alexei vs Vitolinsh, Alvis
0-1
URS-sf 1989 A56
Shirov, Alexei vs Akopian, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
URS-sf 1989 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Kanstler, Boris
1/2-1/2
Frunze op 1989 B15
Shirov, Alexei vs Bologan, Viktor
1/2-1/2
URS-chTJ 1989 D10
Shirov, Alexei vs Yuneev, Alexey
1-0
URS-sf 1989 E94
Shirov, Alexei vs Apicella, Manuel
1-0
Val Maubuee 1989 E73
Shirov, Alexei vs Rozentalis, Eduardas
0-1
URS-FL56 1988 A08
Shirov, Alexei vs Kholmov, Ratmir D
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 E11
Dolmatov, Sergey vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
URS-FL56 1988 B76
Shirov, Alexei vs Aseev, Konstantin N
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 E12
Shirov, Alexei vs Sherbakov, Ruslan
1/2-1/2
Borzhomi 1988 D36
Balashov, Yuri S vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
URS-FL56 1988 B26
Shirov, Alexei vs Psakhis, Lev
0-1
URS-FL56 1988 E48
Shirov, Alexei vs Oll, Lembit
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 E12
Dokhoian, Yury vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 E12
Shirov, Alexei vs Goldin, Alexander
1-0
URS-FL56 1988 D35
Shirov, Alexei vs Gavrikov, Viktor
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56+ 1988 D71
Lukin, Andrei M vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 B20
Guseinov, Aidyn vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-FL56 1988 B25
Dreev, Alexey vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Borzhomi 1988 E97
Khenkin, Igor vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Borzhomi 1988 E92
Shirov, Alexei vs Ionov, Sergey
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 E48
Ulibin, Mikhail vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Borzhomi 1988 B78
Shirov, Alexei vs Komarov, Dimitri
1-0
Borzhomi 1988 D14
Sorokin, Maxim vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Borzhomi 1988 D06
Shirov, Alexei vs Akopian, Vladimir
1-0
Borzhomi 1988 E94
Mikhalchishin, Adrian vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
URS-FL56 1988 B78
Shirov, Alexei vs Janjgava, Lasha
0-1
Borzhomi 1988 E44
Smirin, Ilia vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Borzhomi 1988 A85
Magerramov, Elmar vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
URS-FL56 1988 E92
Smirin, Ilia vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
URS-FL56 1988 B32
Shirov, Alexei vs Petkevich, Jusefs
1-0
Riga op 1987 E71
Shirov, Alexei vs Shabalov, Alexander
0-1
Riga op 1987 D16
Shirov, Alexei vs Dreev, Alexey
0-1
Riga op 1987 D38
Smirin, Ilia vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Riga op 1987 C78
Shirov, Alexei vs Kengis, Edvins
1/2-1/2
Riga op 1987 E20
Klovans, Janis vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Riga op 1987 C78
Vitolinsh, Alvis vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Riga op 1987 C78
Shirov, Alexei vs Smirin, Ilia
1-0
Riga op 1987 E90
Shirov, Alexei vs Burmenko, D.
0-1
SochiJ-B 1986 C15
Shirov, Alexei vs Zhuravliov, Valerij
1-0
Riga 1986 A80
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