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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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Timman, Jan H vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Sarajevo 1999 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Short, Nigel D
1/2-1/2
Sarajevo 1999 A11
Morozevich, Alexander vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Sarajevo 1999 C42
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary
1/2-1/2
Sarajevo 1999 B90
Leko, Peter vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Sarajevo 1999 B90
Fressinet, Laurent vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Grand Prix de Bordeaux 1999 C02
Shirov, Alexei vs Fressinet, Laurent
1-0
Grand Prix de Bordeaux 1999 B47
Shirov, Alexei vs Piket, Jeroen
1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 1999 C78
Piket, Jeroen vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Amber Rapidplay 1999 D97
Nikolic, Predrag vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Amber Rapidplay 1999 E63
Shirov, Alexei vs Nikolic, Predrag
1-0
Amber Blindfold 1999 B09
Shirov, Alexei vs Lautier, Joel
1/2-1/2
Amber Rapidplay 1999 B36
Lautier, Joel vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 1999 A32
Van Wely, Loek vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Amber Rapidplay 1999 D91
Shirov, Alexei vs Van Wely, Loek
1-0
Amber Blindfold 1999 A11
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1999 B77
Topalov, Veselin vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1999 C11
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary
0-1
Hoogovens 1999 B90
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Hoogovens 1999 D85
Shirov, Alexei vs Svidler, Peter
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1999 B90
Timman, Jan H vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1999 D85
Shirov, Alexei vs Anand, Viswanathan
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1999 B49
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasimdzhanov, Rustam
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1999 B49
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir
1-0
EUCup final 14th 1999 C42
Speelman, Jonathan S vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Grand Prix mf 1998 A07
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1998 E63
Shirov, Alexei vs Adla, Diego
1-0
Grand Prix m2 1998 C99
Shirov, Alexei vs Speelman, Jonathan S
1-0
Grand Prix mf 1998 B06
Adla, Diego vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Grand Prix m2 1998 D85
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir
1-0
Hoogovens 1998 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir
1/2-1/2
Elista ol (Men) 1998 B90
Leko, Peter vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Rubinstein mem 35th 1998 B81
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Rubinstein mem 35th 1998 D85
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Rubinstein mem 35th 1998 E60
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Rubinstein mem 35th 1998 A16
Almasi, Zoltan vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1998 C47
Shirov, Alexei vs Van Wely, Loek
1-0
Amber-blind 7th 1998 B09
Van Wely, Loek vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Amber-rapid 7th 1998 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Sadler, Matthew
1-0
Amber-rapid 7th 1998 B90
Sadler, Matthew vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 7th 1998 B22
Shirov, Alexei vs Piket, Jeroen
1-0
Amber-blind 7th 1998 C67
Piket, Jeroen vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Amber-rapid 7th 1998 A16
Nikolic, Predrag vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 7th 1998 E63
Shirov, Alexei vs Nikolic, Predrag
1-0
Amber-blind 7th 1998 C19
Shirov, Alexei vs Lautier, Joel
0-1
Amber-blind 7th 1998 B49
Lautier, Joel vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 7th 1998 C45
Anand, Viswanathan vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1998 C78
Shirov, Alexei vs Timman, Jan H
1-0
Hoogovens 1998 C43
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1998 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Adams, Michael
1-0
Hoogovens 1998 C88
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