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 →
Topalov,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Eurotel Trophy 2002 C67
Shirov,A vs Topalov,V
1-0
Eurotel Trophy 2002 B51
Jussupow,A vs Shirov,A
0-1
Eurotel Trophy 2002 D28
Shirov,A vs Jussupow,A
1-0
Eurotel Trophy 2002 C02
Grischuk,A vs Shirov,A
0-1
FIDE GP 2002 B31
Shirov,A vs Grischuk,A
0-1
FIDE GP 2002 B12
Shirov,A vs Grischuk,A
1/2-1/2
FIDE GP 2002 B19
Grischuk,A vs Shirov,A
1-0
FIDE GP 2002 B81
Short,N vs Shirov,A
0-1
FIDE GP 2002 C42
Short,N vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
FIDE GP 2002 C67
Shirov,A vs Short,N
1/2-1/2
FIDE GP 2002 C76
Shirov,A vs Short,N
1-0
FIDE GP 2002 C72
Shirov,A vs Almasi,Z
1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 2002 C67
Almasi,Z vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Amber Rapidplay 2002 B32
Shirov,A vs Bareev,E
0-1
Amber Rapidplay 2002 C10
Bareev,E vs Shirov,A
0-1
Amber Blindfold 2002 E11
Van Wely,L vs Shirov,A
0-1
Amber Rapidplay 2002 D31
Shirov,A vs Van Wely,L
1-0
Amber Blindfold 2002 B80
Shirov,A vs Piket,Je
1-0
Amber Blindfold 2002 C99
Piket,Je vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Amber Rapidplay 2002 D47
Shirov,A vs Kasparov,G
0-1
SuperGM 2002 B33
Shirov,A vs Ponomariov,R
1/2-1/2
SuperGM 2002 D20
Adams,Mi vs Shirov,A
1-0
SuperGM 2002 B30
Shirov,A vs Ivanchuk,V
1-0
SuperGM 2002 C88
Anand,V vs Shirov,A
1-0
SuperGM 2002 B32
Kasparov,G vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
SuperGM 2002 B31
Ponomariov,R vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
SuperGM 2002 B30
Shirov,A vs Adams,Mi
1/2-1/2
SuperGM 2002 C88
Ivanchuk,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
SuperGM 2002 D11
Shirov,A vs Anand,V
1/2-1/2
SuperGM 2002 B49
Shirov,A vs Gelfand,B
1/2-1/2
EuTCh 2001 C42
Shirov,A vs Adams,Mi
0-1
EuTCh 2001 C42
Shirov,A vs Ljubojevic,L
1-0
Rapidplay 2001 B49
Anand,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Rapidplay 2001 B90
Anand,V vs Shirov,A
1-0
Advanced Chess 2001 B92
Shirov,A vs Anand,V
0-1
Advanced Chess 2001 B12
Anand,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
Advanced Chess 2001 C11
Shirov,A vs Anand,V
1-0
Advanced Chess 2001 B90
Shirov,A vs Topalov,V
1/2-1/2
Advanced Chess 2001 B33
Topalov,V vs Shirov,A
1-0
Advanced Chess 2001 C11
Topalov,V vs Shirov,A
0-1
Advanced Chess 2001 C10
Shirov,A vs Topalov,V
1-0
Advanced Chess 2001 B33
Gelfand,B vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
It 2001 D46
Shirov,A vs Kramnik,V
1/2-1/2
It 2001 C67
Morozevich,A vs Shirov,A
1-0
It 2001 C42
Kasparov,G vs Shirov,A
1-0
It 2001 C11
Shirov,A vs Gelfand,B
1/2-1/2
It 2001 C42
Kramnik,V vs Shirov,A
1/2-1/2
It 2001 D12
Shirov,A vs Morozevich,A
1-0
It 2001 C11
Shirov,A vs Kasparov,G
0-1
It 2001 B84
PreviousPage 23 of 121Next

Explore More

All PlayersAll OpeningsFamous Games