Alexei Shirov

Alexei Shirov (born July 4, 1972 in Riga, Latvia), is one of the top chess grandmasters in the world today. The January 2004 FIDE rating list shows Alexei with an Elo rating of 2736, ranking him number five in the world.

Shirov is noted for his attacking style and for seeking complications, a tendency which has led to comparisons with fellow Latvian and once-world champion, Mikhail Tal.

In 1998, Shirov had a book published called Fire on Board: Shirov's Best Games. He currently lives in, and plays for, Spain.