Alexei Shirov vs Alexey Sarana
GM Alexei Shirov (2601) · GM Alexey Sarana (2664)
Alexei Shirov and Alexey Sarana have played 13 recorded games against each other, the first in Mar 2020 and the most recent in Apr 2026. Shirov leads 4 wins to 8 - trailing overall, with 1 draws (92% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Slav Defense (4 games). The average game between them lasted 42 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shirov | Draws | Sarana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirov with White | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Sarana with White | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shirov | Draws | Sarana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Classical | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rapid | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shirov | Draws | Sarana |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D46 | Slav Defense | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| D44 | Slav Defense | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D45 | Slav Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B46 | Sicilian | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| E11 | Bogo-Indian Defense | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | Alexei Shirov | Alexey Sarana | 0-1 | Bogo-Indian Defense | Bundesliga 2025-26 |
| Mar 2025 | A Shirov | A Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | Titled Tue Late |
| Jan 2025 | A Sarana | A Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| May 2024 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Feb 2024 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue Late |
| Feb 2024 | Alexei Shirov | Alexey Sarana | 0-1 | Sicilian | Titled Tue Late |
| Feb 2024 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| Jan 2024 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue Early |
| May 2022 | Alexei Shirov | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian: Closed | Titled Tue Late |
| Dec 2020 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 0-1 | Slav Defense | Titled Tue |
| Mar 2020 | Alexei Shirov | Alexey Sarana | 1-0 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 6th Moscow Nutcracker Rapid |
| Mar 2020 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | 6th Moscow Nutcracker Rapid |
| Mar 2020 | Alexey Sarana | Alexei Shirov | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | 6th Moscow Nutcracker |
Interactive board, all 13 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Alexei Shirov and Alexey Sarana?
In 13 recorded games, Alexei Shirov has 4 wins, Alexey Sarana has 8 wins, and they have drawn 1 times.
How many times have Alexei Shirov and Alexey Sarana played each other?
Our database records 13 games between them, from Mar 2020 to Apr 2026.
What openings do Alexei Shirov and Alexey Sarana play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Slav Defense (4 games), followed by the Slav Defense (3). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.