Alexei Shirov vs Igor Kovalenko
GM Alexei Shirov (2601) · GM Igor Kovalenko (2672)
Alexei Shirov and Igor Kovalenko have played 12 recorded games against each other, the first in Feb 2012 and the most recent in Feb 2024. Shirov leads 3 wins to 5 - trailing overall, with 4 draws (67% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the English Opening: Slav Setup (1 games). The average game between them lasted 47 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Shirov | Draws | Kovalenko |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirov with White | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Kovalenko with White | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Shirov | Draws | Kovalenko |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Blitz | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Classical | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Shirov | Draws | Kovalenko |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A11 | English Opening: Slav Setup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B41 | Sicilian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| B45 | Sicilian: Four Knights | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
All games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 0-1 | English Opening: Slav Setup | Titled Tue Late |
| Nov 2022 | Alexei Shirov | Igor Kovalenko | 1-0 | Sicilian | WchT Pool A 13th |
| Feb 2021 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Slav Defense | Gipslis Memorial Blitz |
| Jan 2021 | Alexei Shirov | Igor Kovalenko | 0-1 | Sicilian: Four Knights | Titled Tue |
| Sep 2020 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Exchange | chT-ESP CECLUB Honor |
| Jan 2020 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | Riga Shirov&Maskacha Rapid |
| Jul 2019 | Alexei Shirov | Igor Kovalenko | 0-1 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | Riga Tal Memorial Blitz |
| Jul 2019 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 1-0 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | Riga Tal Memorial Rapid |
| Nov 2016 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 0-1 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 17th Puhajarve Rapid Open |
| Aug 2015 | Alexei Shirov | Igor Kovalenko | 1/2-1/2 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 5th Riga Tech Open |
| Aug 2014 | Alexei Shirov | Igor Kovalenko | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | St Petersburg Summer Rapid |
| Feb 2012 | Igor Kovalenko | Alexei Shirov | 1/2-1/2 | Slav Defense | Vladimir Petrov Memorial |
Interactive board, all 12 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Alexei Shirov and Igor Kovalenko?
In 12 recorded games, Alexei Shirov has 3 wins, Igor Kovalenko has 5 wins, and they have drawn 4 times.
How many times have Alexei Shirov and Igor Kovalenko played each other?
Our database records 12 games between them, from Feb 2012 to Feb 2024.
What openings do Alexei Shirov and Igor Kovalenko play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the English Opening: Slav Setup (1 games), followed by the English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (1). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.