Ok, I'm aware that it is highly unlikely that I'll be coaching GM Alexei Shirov in a while , but how does this player choose his opening repertoire? I mean, he keeps on playing the Petrov against 1.e4 and the Grünfeld against 1.d4.

How on earth can one of the most imaginative players that has ever lived play the Petrov? it's just shocking! What has happened to this man? I don't understand it, but one thing is for sure: whoever is giving him advice, cannot be called a friend! (I think Shirov usually works on his own).

Here's Shirov's loss against Kramnik in round 2 at Wijk aan Zee. Alexei blundered a piece on his 34th move, but his position was already quite bad. He never had a chance to unfold any of his former imaginative skills... (and I keep observing that in his games).

Kramnik,V (2766) - Shirov,A (2715) [A16]

Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 14.01.2007

[pgn]1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qa4+ Bd7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 Bg7 7.e4 c6 8.d4 b5 9.Qb3 a5 10.e5 a4 11.Qd1 Nd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Be2 Nc6 14.0-0 0-0 15.Be3 Na5 16.b3 axb3 17.axb3 Qb6 18.Ne1 b4 19.Nd3 Bb5 20.Nc5 Nb7 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Bxb5 Qxb5 23.Qd3 Qc6 24.Na4 Nd8 25.Rc1 Qb7 26.Qc2 f6 27.f4 Bh6 28.g3 fxe5 29.dxe5 Ne6 30.Qc6 Qxc6 31.Rxc6 Kf7 32.Kf2 Rb8 33.Ke2 Bf8 34.Kd3 Rb7 1-0[/pgn]