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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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Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-blind 4th 1995 B53
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 A48
Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir★
1-0
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 B77
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Biel 1995 D48
Anand, Viswanathan vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 B66
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Amber-rapid 4th 1995 E63
Shirov, Alexei vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1995 B90
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1-0
Linares 1994 C48
Karpov, Anatoly vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1994 D47
Topalov, Veselin vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Linares 1994 B15
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Linares 1994 D11
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1994 B51
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1994 B33
Shirov, Alexei vs Anand, Viswanathan★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1994 D43
Polgar, Judit vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Linares 1994 B06
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1994 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Kamsky, Gata★
1-0
Linares 1994 B54
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Tilburg rapid20 1993 D15
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1/2-1/2
Tilburg rapid20 1993 C11
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1993 E69
Shirov, Alexei vs Beliavsky, Alexander G★
0-1
Linares 1993 D58
Shirov, Alexei vs Kamsky, Gata★
1-0
Linares 1993 D87
Jussupow, Artur vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1993 D44
Shirov, Alexei vs Karpov, Anatoly★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1993 E12
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir★
1-0
Wch Team 1993 B65
Shirov, Alexei vs Kortschnoj, Viktor★
1/2-1/2
Wch Team 1993 C11
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1993 C11
Gelfand, Boris vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Linares 1993 A13
Timman, Jan H vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1993 B50
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1/2-1/2
Wch Team 1993 B90
Serper, Grigory vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Wch Team 1993 D12
Shirov, Alexei vs Portisch, Lajos★
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 B85
Xu Jun vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Wch Team 1993 A21
Anand, Viswanathan vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1993 B66
Nogueiras, Jesus vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Wch Team 1993 D06
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Linares 1993 B59
Shirov, Alexei vs Hjartarson, Johann★
1-0
Wch Team 1993 B49
Shirov, Alexei vs Ivanchuk, Vassily★
1/2-1/2
Linares 1993 B85
Shirov, Alexei vs Gelfand, Boris★
1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal 1993 B90
Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei★
0-1
Wch Team 1993 D44
Vaganian, Rafael A vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Wch Team 1993 A16
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1993 E97
Shirov, Alexei vs Kramnik, Vladimir★
1-0
Linares 1993 D20
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1992 B22
Shirov, Alexei vs Kasparov, Gary★
0-1
Dortmund 1992 E86
Shirov, Alexei vs Karpov, Anatoly★
0-1
Biel 1992 E25
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Shirov, Alexei★
1/2-1/2
Biel 1992 D35
Kamsky, Gata vs Shirov, Alexei★
1-0
Dortmund 1992 D36
Shirov, Alexei vs Anand, Viswanathan★
1/2-1/2
Dortmund 1992 D20
Shirov, Alexei vs Beliavsky, Alexander G★
0-1
Biel 1992 E25
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