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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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Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Munich 1993 C54
Larsen, Bent vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Buenos Aires Najdorf 1993 D55
Shirov, Alexei vs Adams, Michael
1-0
Chalkidiki Afitos 1993 A57
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Chalkidiki Afitos 1993 D15
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Munich 1993 B66
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Groningen PCA 1993 B33
Shirov, Alexei vs Rozentalis, Eduardas
1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1993 C10
Shirov, Alexei vs Jussupow, Artur
1-0
Munich 1993 C49
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Moscow blitz 1993 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Mozetic, Dejan
1-0
Tilburg 1993 C55
Mozetic, Dejan vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Tilburg 1993 D10
Khalifman, Alexander vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Moscow blitz 1993 E70
Polgar, Zsuzsa vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Moscow blitz 1993 D47
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Chalkidiki Nikiti 1993 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Gurevich, Dmitry
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 B64
Gulko, Boris F vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Gelfand, Boris
1-0
Chalkidiki Nikiti 1993 E99
Shirov, Alexei vs Kamsky, Gata
1/2-1/2
Buenos Aires Najdorf 1993 E86
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Wijk op 1993 D46
De Firmian, Nick E vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Tilburg 1993 B89
Shirov, Alexei vs Gelfand, Boris
0-1
Chalkidiki Afitos 1993 B90
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Chalkidiki Nikiti playoff g/15 1993 B66
Smyslov, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Moscow blitz 1993 B50
Bareev, Evgeny vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Linares 1993 D43
Wolff, Patrick G vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 C54
Shirov, Alexei vs Karpov, Anatoly
0-1
Moscow blitz 1993 E25
Shirov, Alexei vs De Firmian, Nick E
1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1993 E44
Shirov, Alexei vs Epishin, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 E12
Van der Sterren, Paul vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
Groningen PCA 1993 B65
Frolov, Artur vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Biel Interzonal 1993 B89
Shirov, Alexei vs Adams, Michael
1-0
Chalkidiki Nikiti playoff g/15 1993 B49
Shirov, Alexei vs Hjartarson, Johann
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 B82
Rozentalis, Eduardas vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Tilburg 1993 B22
Shirov, Alexei vs Salov, Valery
0-1
Linares 1993 B54
Bareev, Evgeny vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Tilburg 1993 D15
Yudasin, Leonid vs Shirov, Alexei
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1993 B62
Shirov, Alexei vs Bareev, Evgeny
1-0
Tilburg 1993 B32
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Moscow blitz 1993 A21
Shirov, Alexei vs Akopian, Vladimir
1-0
Biel Interzonal 1993 D45
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Chalkidiki Afitos 1993 B33
Anand, Viswanathan vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Groningen PCA 1993 B07
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 9293 1993 E81
Timman, Jan H vs Shirov, Alexei
0-1
Moscow blitz 1993 B52
Oll, Lembit vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Tilburg rapid 1992 E92
Oll, Lembit vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1992 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Kamsky, Gata
1-0
Manila ol (Men) 1992 D85
Shirov, Alexei vs Oll, Lembit
1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1992 D20
Shirov, Alexei vs Hansen, Curt
1/2-1/2
Biel 1992 B09
Salov, Valery vs Shirov, Alexei
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1992 D12
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