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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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Krakops,M vs Shirov,A
0-1
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 C77
Shirov,A vs Volokitin,And
1-0
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 B90
Khismatullin,D vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 D45
Shirov,A vs Shulman,V
1-0
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 B06
Pedmanson,Herman vs Shirov,A
0-1
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 D04
Shirov,A vs Fedoseev,Vl3
1-0
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 B31
Shirov,A vs Ravi,TeS
1-0
Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 2019 A45
Shirov,A vs Alekseev,Evgeny
0-1
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 B46
Frolyanov,D vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 C95
Shirov,A vs Cruz,Cr
1-0
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 B06
Sulskis,S vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 C78
Usmanov,V vs Shirov,A
0-1
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 D45
Shirov,A vs Halkias,S
1-0
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 C95
Shirov,A vs Kunin,V
1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 B30
Kovalenko,I vs Shirov,A
1-0
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 B30
Shirov,A vs Chukavin,Kirill
1-0
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 B81
Mikenas,Laimutis vs Shirov,A
0-1
Tal Memorial Rapid 2019 2019 A13
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Shirov,A
1-0
1st Prague Challengers 2019 C53
Carlsen,M vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
World Blitz 2018 2018 C77
Shirov,A vs Svidler,P
0-1
World Rapid 2018 2018 B46
Shirov,A vs Karjakin,Sergey
1/2-1/2
World Rapid 2018 2018 C67
Kamsky,G vs Shirov,A
1-0
World Rapid 2018 2018 D02
Shirov,A vs Giri,A
1/2-1/2
World Rapid 2018 2018 C65
Shirov,A vs Kramnik,V
0-1
chess.com IoM Masters 2018 C65
So,W vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
chess.com IoM Masters 2018 D13
Shirov,A vs Nakamura,Hi
0-1
chess.com IoM Masters 2018 B12
Kamsky,G vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
TCh-RUS Premier 2018 2018 C46
Adams,Mi vs Shirov,A
1-0
chess.com IoM Masters 2017 C77
Shirov,A vs Anand,V
1/2-1/2
chess.com IoM Masters 2017 C67
Shirov,A vs Nakamura,Hi
1/2-1/2
chess.com IoM Masters 2017 B12
Shirov,A vs Firouzja,Alireza
1/2-1/2
2nd Stars Cup 2017 2017 C92
Shirov,A vs Firouzja,Alireza
1-0
2nd Stars Cup Blitz 2017 2017 C71
Kramnik,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
TCh-RUS Men 2017 2017 C84
Shirov,A vs Miezis,N
1-0
Zurich Korchnoi Open 2017 2017 E20
Shirov,A vs Ganaus,H
1-0
Zurich Korchnoi Open 2017 2017 C02
Perunovic,Mil vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Zurich Korchnoi Open 2017 2017 C84
Klundt,K vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Zurich Korchnoi Open 2017 2017 C78
Shirov,A vs Esipenko,Andrey
1/2-1/2
Zurich Korchnoi Open 2017 2017 E18
Reinwald,P vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Zurich Korchnoi Open 2017 2017 C45
Shirov,A vs Ponomariov,R
1-0
European Rapid 2016 2016 B90
Beliavsky,A vs Shirov,A
0-1
17th Puhajarve Rapid 2016 D79
Ferreira,Jor1 vs Shirov,A
0-1
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016 A09
Shirov,A vs Bareev,E
1-0
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016 B12
Jumabayev,R vs Shirov,A
1-0
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016 D11
Zhigalko,S vs Shirov,A
1-0
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016 C03
Shirov,A vs Grandelius,N
1/2-1/2
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016 E20
Morovic Fernandez,I vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
42nd Olympiad 2016 2016 C11
Shirov,A vs Petrosian,DG
1-0
13th Avicenna Open 2016 2016 C02
Shirov,A vs Timman,J
1-0
Xtracon Chess Open 2016 2016 E11
Giri,A vs Shirov,A
1-0
20th European Teams 2015 B31
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