Battle of Generations: Shirov-Dubov

As the brainchild of Russian businessman Oleg Skvortsov, a match called the Battle of Generations is being held at the Digital October center between rising junior Daniil Dubov and legendary Alexei Shirov. It is a six-game match with blitz games if any end in a draw, and enjoys high-res video broadcast via ChessTV. The opening ceremony was a small party at a chic Moscow restaurant. Great games and pictures.

 

The gorgeous Patriach Pond in Moscow

On Sunday in a Moscow restaurant, a stone's throw from the famous Patriarch's Pond, the cozy opening ceremony for a match between grandmasters Alexei Shirov (Latvia) and Daniil Dubov (Russia) took place. This bout between two immensely talented representatives of two different generations was the brainchild of Russian businessman Oleg Skvortsov.

Oleg Skvortsov and his wife Natalia Shevando talk with GM Alexander Volzhin

Daniil Dubov in good company

Alexei Shirov

Daniil Dubov sporting overgrown peach fuzz or undergrown mustache

The drawing of lots was a simple couple of kings hidden in an ice bucket

Alexander Volzhin and Natalia Zhukova

The party in full swing

Chief Editor of "64" Mark Gluhovsky, Alexander Morozevich and Oleg Skvortsov

WGM Anna Burtasova

The two grandmasters will play six games with FIDE time control: 90 minutes for 40 moves and 30 minutes for the rest with a 30-second per move increment, starting from move one. Even if one of the two effectively wins the match before the end, all six games are guaranteed to be played. If on the other hand, no winner is the winner will be determined in advance, will be played all the games. And they are unable to decide a winner then a blitz match will be held to break the tie. The tiebreak is unlimited and they will play sets of two games until a winner emerges. Another interesting idea by Oleg Skvortsov

The world's oldest grandmaster Yuri Averbakh and photographer Boris G. Dolmatovsky

Daniil Dubov, Catherine Sekenova and Mikhail Kobalia

Chief editor Maxim Notkin, ChessPro coach Vasily Gagarin, and Olga Dolgov

Alexander Morozevich shares his secrets

Soon others join to pick his brain

Finally, they organize tag-team blitz games for fun

The match will be held from 2 to 8 December at the "Digital October" center.  ChessTV is broadcasting the games live in their signature high quality video, with commentary (in Russian) by grandmaster Sergey Shipov, Dani Dubov’s coach. Admission at the venue is free for spectators.

Daniil Dubov greets Alexei Shirov in game two

After the first game ended in a draw in a hard fought Anti-Meran, the two faced off in a couple of blitz games, which ended in favor of the younger Dubov. This does not count toward the match score however, and in game two, in an extremely sharp Anti-Meran Gambit, Shirov scored the first win and leads 1.5-0.5
Download PGN

Game:	Rtg	01	02	03	04	05	06	Score
Daniil Dubov	2636	½	0					0.5
Alexei Shirov	2695	½	1					1.5

Source:www.chessbase.com