Alexei Shirov

Alexei Shirov is a Latvian grandmaster who plays for Spain. In 1994 he was the number-two player in the world. Shirov defeated GM Vladimir Kramnik in a match in 1998 to become the challenger to GM Garry Kasparov for the classical world championship, but this match never took place.

Shirov has participated in 11 Olympiads and became the Spanish champion in 2002. Known for his brilliant tactical play, combinational vision, and spectacular sacrifices, Shirov has dazzled the chess world for three decades. His book Fire on the Board: Shirov's Best Games is a fan favorite and is mentioned in Chess.com's Top 10 Chess Books Every Chess Player Should Read.