Alexei Shirov

There are not many top grandmasters who enjoy such great popularity among
chess fans all over the world as Alexei Shirov. Thanks to his aggressive and
ingenious playing style, commentators often compare him with the former world
champion Mikhail Tal. He regularly sacrifices material in return for initiative
and complications, where he always seems to be just one step ahead of his opponent.
Following Shirov’s games is like watching a "fire on the board".
1. Alexei Shirov: My Best Games in the Spanish

On this DVD the genius from Riga presents his most brilliant games in the Ruy
Lopez. Let Shirov show you how to break down the super-solid Berlin Defence,
or how he managed to achieve promising counterplay against Garry Kasparov in
the Open Ruy Lopez. Follow this top player through one of his most famous lines
in the Ruy, the Anti-Marshall with 8.h3. More than 4.5 hours private tuition
with one of the most exciting top-class players in the world!
2. Alexei Shirov: My best games in the Sicilian

On this DVD Shirov focuses on his most outstanding achievements in the Sicilian
(except the Najdorf, which is dealt with on a separate DVD), a peronal selection
combining highest chess quality with aesthetic pleasure. His lectures are designed
to not only explain the different opening lines, but also to present interesting
and sometimes perplexing ideas and sacrifices in the middlegame. On this training
DVD, with a total playing time of nearly four hours, you will find Shirov games
against Anand, Kramnik, Leko and other top players.
3. Alexei Shirov: My best games in the Najdorf
Shirov’s uncompromising style of play is also reflected in his manner
of commenting his own games. He is perfectly objective, and in fact sometimes
ruthlessly critical of himself. Even when he is dealing with highly acclaimed
games, his judgement is unbiased – no glossing over critical positions
where he did not find the optimal continuation.
Chess fans are treated not just to a portrait of this extraordinary player,
but they can also learn a lot about the development of particular opening lines
at top level in the course of time. On this DVD you will find his most brilliant
games in the Sicilian Najdorf. Shirov’s duel with van Wely in the Najdorf
Keres Attack is for sure one of the highlights, just as the presentation of
one of his best games against Kasparov. More than three hours entertainment
and enlightenment, all packed in one.
4. My best games in the Caro-Kann
The Caro-Kann Defence, which arises after the moves 1.e4 c6 followed by 2...d7-d5,
is considered one of the most solid and reliable replies to the double step
of White’s e-pawn. Black fights for his share of the centre without accepting
an unnecessary weakening of his position, patiently waiting for his chance.
Shirov’s preferred weapon against this sound black set-up has always been
the Advance Variation 3.e5, avoiding the simplification after 3.Nc3 dxe4 and
reaching a type of position of greater tactical and strategic complexity –
with chances and risks for both sides. Thus, the main topic of the DVD are the
white and black plans following 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3, which the Latvian
super grandmaster explains by means of the best games from his own practice.
And apart from impressive White wins, these also include two examples with Shirov
leading the black pieces! Video playing time: 4 h 53 m

5. My best games in the King’s Indian
With this DVD on the King‘s Indian Defence, Alexei Shirov continues
the successful and highly praised series about his best games. As in the preceding
DVDs the Latvian super grandmaster succeeds in spoiling his public with analysis
of a high quality and with exciting insights into his games, and he does so
in his own reserved, pleasant and modest style. As is the case with many of
his openings, Alexei Shirov also plays the King‘s Indian with both colours.
The DVD concentrates on the main line of the Classical King‘s Indian with
Nf3, Be2 and 0-0. In the games, and they are almost exclusively victories, his
opponents are renowned experts in this opening, such as World Champion Kramnik
and Boris Gelfand with White. The black side is represented, amongst others,
by the legendary King‘s Indian specialist John Nunn, but also by Teimour
Radjabov, who may not yet be a legend, but who is reckoned at the moment to
be the greatest expert in the King‘s Indian. Video running time: over
5 hours.
6. My best games in the Nimzo-Indian
With this DVD on the Nimzo-Indian Defence (including the Catalan and the Queen‘s
Indian) Alexei Shirov continues the successful and highly praised series about
his best games. As in the preceding DVDs the Latvian super grandmaster succeeds
in spoiling his public with analysis of a high quality and with exciting insights
into his games, and he does so in his own reserved, pleasant and modest style.
The DVD concentrates on the Classical Nimzo-Indian with 4.Qc2. But when playing
against the very solid Nimzo-Indian, which the author faced most often as White,
it is enormously important to be able to vary your opening lines and so the
author himself often switches to 3.Nf3; this then leads to games with 3.b6 (Queen‘s
Indian) or 3.d5 4.g3 (Catalan). Amongst the opponents in the games he presents
are, for example, Topalov and Leko. Video running time: over 4 hours.

7. My best games in the Petroff Defence
With this DVD on the Russian Defence (Petroff Defence) Alexei Shirov continues
the successful and highly praised series of his best games. Since many players
look on the Russian Defence with the suspicion that it is a drawish opening,
and one which at the same time is both dry and boring, Shirov has in this DVD
set himself the specific task of countering this view of matters. Thus he begins
the DVD with a game featuring the Cochrane Gambit. Then of course Shirov concentrates
on the solid and recognised lines, and in doing so continually manages to explain
their deeper content. But the spectator will draw benefit not only from his
remarks on the opening, because Shirov understands so brilliantly how to explain
instructively and profitably for the student every phase of the game, with the
result that at the end of the DVD on the Russian Defence, you will even have
learned a lot about endgames. Video running time: over 5 hours.
8. My best games in the Slav and Semi-Slav
The Slav is typified by the move c6, and in the Semi-Slav e6 is also played;
the relationship between the two is obvious. At some points, Shirov’s
lecture is closely related to the history of the opening, because the Latvian
has contributed to and advanced the development of many lines. In the Meran
Variation, Shirov’s name is linked to a line which is now known as Shabalov
Attack. After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 it was
Shirov and Shabalov, who introduced the move 7.g4 into chess praxis in 1992.
Today there are over 1000 games in the Mega Database with that variation. Shirov
recounts the way this extravagant line arose and explains some of its most important
ideas. Video running time: 5 hrs 20 min.


Alexei Shirov has written two "Fire on Board" books – the first was published
in 1995, the second ten years later.