Battle of Generations: Shirov wins 5-1

12/10/2013 – Though the result of the match was no longer in doubt, one might have wondered whether Daniil Dubov and Alexei Shirov would play out their last game. To the delight of those watching it was a fascinating Meran, which saw Shirov sacrifice the exchange for a powerhouse pawn on b2. In the end, they drew and went on to the blitz games where Dubov had the edge. A fitting end to a great match.

 

The coverage on Chess.TV was typically superb

The handshake before the last game

In Moscow, at the “Digital October” center of technologies, the friendly "Battle of Generations “ match between Alexei Shirov and Daniil Dubov ended. In the final sixth game the players played a Meran following Aronian - Shirov (Novi Sad, 2009). Shirov ran into difficulties, and with his signature creativity gave up the exchange with 18…cxb2 for a strong passed pawn that secured the balance. In fact, in the final position, he might easily have pressed on, but ultimately decided to call it a day and they shook hands, ending the match on an inexorable 5-1 score.

Though he certainly suffered at Shirov's hands, Dubov always came back ready
for a fight

Shirov racks his brain as he tries to remember his preparation

The draw did mean that there would be two blitz games, as stipulated y the match regulations, and this time 17-year-old Dubov took the lead with 1.5-0.5. This was the second time he won the blitz mini-match after the draw, so although he lost the classical games 5-1, he can take some measure of solace in his 3-1 win in blitz.

The setting was both simple yet elegant  

Download PGN

The match between 41-year-old Alexei Shirov and 17-year-old Daniil Dubov was the brainchild of Russian businessman Oleg Skvortsov, who also sponsored it. A true chess lover, Skvortsov (International Gemological Laboratories, Moscow) also sponsored the unforgettable 2011 Aronian-Kramnik match, the Zurich Chess Challenge and a friendly match between Dmitry Andreikin and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Eduard Dubov, Daniil Dubov, Yuri Dokhoyan and Mark Glukhovsky analyze

The match took place at the Digital October center in Moscow, which is part of the former Red October chocolate factory and also the location of the Chess.TV

Alexei Shirov receives his prize from Oleg Skvortsov

Game:	Rtg	01	02	03	04	05	06	Score
Daniil Dubov	2636	½	0	0	0	0	½	1.0
Alexei Shirov	2695	½	1	1	1	1	½	5.0

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