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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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Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary★
0-1
Tilburg Fontys 1997 B90
Shirov, Alexei vs Svidler, Peter★
0-1
Tilburg Fontys 1997 B43
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary★
0-1
Linares 14th 1997 B90
Polgar, Judit vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 14th 1997 C78
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
0-1
Linares 14th 1997 B90
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Linares 14th 1997 C78
Shirov, Alexei vs Topalov, Veselin★
1-0
Linares 14th 1997 C69
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-blind 5th 1996 B08
Polgar, Judit vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Amber-blind 5th 1996 B06
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Amber-blind 5th 1996 D30
Shirov, Alexei vs Kamsky, Gata★
0-1
Amber-blind 5th 1996 B81
Shirov, Alexei vs Polgar, Judit★
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1996 B81
Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 B06
Svidler, Peter vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Tilburg Fontys 1996 B01
Shirov, Alexei vs Karpov, Anatoly★
0-1
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 B12
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Tilburg Fontys 1996 D10
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1996 A20
Anand, Viswanathan vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir★
0-1
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 B66
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 5th 1996 D44
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 B42
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1996 B08
Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir★
1-0
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 C17
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Dortmund 1996 D17
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Dortmund 1996 D17
Shirov, Alexei vs Polgar, Judit★
1-0
Amber-rapid 5th 1996 B54
Leko, Peter vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Tilburg Fontys 1996 C78
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1-0
Amber-blind 5th 1996 B67
Shirov, Alexei vs Polgar, Judit★
1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1996 B84
Shirov, Alexei vs Topalov, Veselin★
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1996 E94
Shirov, Alexei vs Adams, Michael★
1-0
Tilburg Fontys 1996 C69
Shirov, Alexei vs Anand, Viswanathan★
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1996 B12
Leko, Peter vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Dortmund 1996 B08
Shirov, Alexei vs Anand, Viswanathan★
1-0
Amber-blind 5th 1996 C88
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 4th 1995 B08
Short, Nigel D vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1995 B06
Anand, Viswanathan vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 B66
Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1995 B90
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 4th 1995 C67
Shirov, Alexei vs Kamsky, Gata★
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 E46
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Biel 1995 D48
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-blind 4th 1995 D30
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 A48
Shirov, Alexei vs Polgar, Judit★
1-0
Amber-blind 4th 1995 E98
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir★
1-0
Amber-blind 4th 1995 B33
Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-blind 4th 1995 B53
Khalifman, Alexander vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1995 A48
Shirov, Alexei vs Topalov, Veselin★
1-0
Linares 1995 A59
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1995 B08
Polgar, Judit vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 B53
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