Battle of Generations: Shirov massacre

by ChessBase
12/7/2013 – The friendly match between Alexei Shirov and Daniil Dubov has been a massacre in favor of the Latvian as he takes a 4.5-0.5 lead with one game to go. The match is ensured a full six games, but there has been little need of that to satisfy the audience's bloodlust. Though Dubov may have been unable to contain Shirov's nuclear brand of chess, the games have been highly entertaining.
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Battle of Generations: Shirov massacre

The friendly match between Alexei Shirov and Daniil Dubov has been a massacre in favor of the Latvian as he takes a 4.5-0.5 lead with one game to go. The match is ensured a full six games whatever the results and two blitz games in the event of a draw, but there has been little need of that to satisfy the audience's bloodlust.

Game three brought no reprieve for Dubov...

One could point out the more experienced and higher rating of Shirov over Dubov, but the truth is that would be only part of the story. The two players have extremely contrasting styles, with Shirov famous for his dynamic and tactical play, while Dubov has been described by Sergey Shipov, his trainer, as having a style more remniscent of Petrosian than anyone. The question then beckons: why is the ultra-positional player plunging headfirst into the Botvinnik system of the Semi-Slav with both colors? The Botvinnik has long been the darling of elite GMs, the ultimate challenge in complications and opening preparation, which hardly seems like the ideal choice if you want to impose quiet methodical maneuvering, and contain Shirov's nuclear brand of chess.

... as Shirov has had all the answers in the end.

That said, the games have been entertaining to say the least, and are well worth playing through. Use the drop-down menu to select the game.

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,172,27354%2421---
1.d4951,24355%2434---
1.Nf3283,16356%2440---
1.c4182,99656%2442---
1.g319,77556%2427---
1.b314,39754%2427---
1.f45,92048%2377---
1.Nc33,83450%2384---
1.b41,76548%2379---
1.a31,22854%2405---
1.e31,07449%2409---
1.d395850%2378---
1.g466746%2361---
1.h445753%2378---
1.c343651%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411560%2464---
1.f39646%2431---
1.Nh39166%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 It is not a big surprise that young Dubov avoids the sharpest line against a tactician as formidable as Shirov, but the line he chooses does not promise an advantage for White, and chaos will still reign. 9.Nxg5 is by far the darling of top GMs, who relish the challenge of insane complications, and deep preparation. hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 etc. 9...Nd5 10.h4 10.Nd2 is the normal continuation, with the idea of Be2 and Nde4. 10...Qa5 11.Rc1 Bb4 12.hxg5 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3+ 14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Rxh6 Rg8 16.Be2 Bb7 17.Bh5! 0-0-0! Though the engines claim equality, White's king is looking quite vulnerable in the center. 18.Bxf7 Rxg5 19.Bxe6 Rxg3 20.fxg3 Bxd4 21.Bxd7+ Rxd7 22.e6 Re7 Though balanced, White's position looks very dangerous, with the king caught in the center and Black's heavy artillery running rampant. 23.Kf1 Qa3 24.Nf3 Qe3 25.Nxd4? Despair? White tries to lop off some of the pieces threatening him but it blows up in his face. Qxh6 26.Nf5 Qf6 27.g4 Rxe6 28.Qd2 c5 29.Kg1 Qd8 30.Qf2 Qd5 31.g5 Kc7 32.a4 Re5 33.Nh4 Rxg5 34.axb5 Rg4 35.Re1 Qd4 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Dubov,D2629Shirov,A26950–12013D44Battle of the Generations 20132

The start of game five

Game:
 Rtg
01
02
03
04
05
06
Score
Daniil Dubov 2636
½
0
0
0
0
  
0.5
Alexei Shirov 2695
½
1
1
1
1
  
4.5

Pictures by Alexander Weinstein

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