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Mikhail Tal: The Brilliant Soviet-Latvian Chess Prodigy
Mikhail Nekhemyevich Tal (1936-1992) was a captivating Soviet-Latvian chess player who rose to become the eighth World Chess Champion. Known as the "Magician from Riga," Tal's unorthodox and daring playing style made him one of the most creative and influential figures in the history of the game.
Tal's Remarkable Accomplishments:
- In 1960, at just 23 years old, Tal became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion, a record that stood for decades.
- He was a six-time Soviet Champion, equaling a feat only achieved by the legendary Mikhail Botvinnik.
- Tal was a member of eight Soviet teams that secured gold medals in chess Olympiads, and he also won the individual gold medal five times.
- He held the record for the longest unbeaten streak in competitive chess history, with 95 games (46 wins, 49 draws) between 1973 and 1974.
- Beyond his playing career, Tal was highly regarded as a chess writer and commentator.
Tal Wikipedia Page - Extensive History
Mikhail Tal Chess Articles
The Top Chess Players in the World - Mikail Tal - Chess.com Article (w/photos and Games)
Mikhail Tal: “The Only Man Kasparov Feared” - Chess player Profile - Chess Journal (w/games and Embedded Videos)
Garry Kasparov talks about Mikhail Tal and Soviet chess history - translation of a one-hour radio feature about Mikhail Tal, aired on the radio "Echo Moskvy"
Edward Winters (Chess Notes) Amazing Chess Historian
Mikhail Tal (1936-92) - Feature Article - Pages of History
Mikhail Tal in London (1964) - All the Games from a Simul in London in 1964 (+12 =8 –4)
Books about Keres and Tal - Has the list of Books written on Tal from 1960 - 2019
GM Bryan Smith Blog
Mikhail Tal And The Modern Benoni - Opening Theory Article (w/ History and 7 Annotated Games)
Attack and Defense from Mikhail Tal - Middlegame Article (w 1 Annotated Game)
Mikhail Tal's Attacking Secret - Tactics Article (w/ 2 Annotated Games)
GM Gregory Serper Blog
Tal's Attacking Recipe - Tactics Article (w/ 5 Annotated games) One pattern across different Openings.
The Man Who Beat Mikhail Tal - Tactics Article (w/ History and 5 Annotated Games)
GM Naroditsky Blog
Tal's Sacrifices Explained - Tactics Article (w/ 2 Annotated Games and a Puzzle)
LiChess Studies
Mikhail Tal 10 games - 10 Chapter Study (Famous games)
The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal - 18 Chapter Study (Famous games)
Mikhail Tal - TACTICS - 20 Chapter Interactive Study (20 Tactics from his games to solve)
Mikhail Tal --⚔️-- Attacking genius! - 37 Chapter Study (All 37 Games are Annotated)
Specific Openings (Lichess Study of Tal playing an opening)
Mikhail Tal - Sicilian - 30 Chapter Study (Tal plays white against different Sicilians)
Tal Plays the Caro-Kann - 23 Chapter Study (Tal as Black)
Mikhail Tal in the KID - 20 Chapter Study (Tal as Black)
Games Databases
365Chess.com
Mikhail Tal - 2562 Games (Really Nice Page with breakdowns of Repertoires for Black and White)
Chessgames.com
Mikhail Tal - 2941 Games (Breakdowns - Notable Games, World Championships, Notable Tournaments, Game Collections)
ChessTempo.com
Mikhail Tal - 2600 Games (Breakdown - Opening Stats)
Tactics Puzzles
WTHarvey.com
Chess problems taken from the games of Mikhail Tal - 70 Puzzles
There are two types of sacrifices: correct ones and mine.
Mikhail Tal Game Videos
(w/Annotated Game Analysis)
MIkhail Tal - 157 Video Playlist - kingscrusher
Mikhail Tal - 86 Video Playlist- agadmator's Chess Channel
Mikhail Tal's Best Chess Games - 27 Video Playlist - NM Sam Copeland
Mikhail Tal - 100 Video Playlist - Chess School
Mikhail Tal - 26 Video Playlist - PowerPlayChess - GM Daniel King
Tal vs Botvinnik | 1960 World Chess Championhip Match - 21 Video Playlist - agadmantor's Chess Channel
The Life and Chess of Mikhail Tal - 2hr Presentation
Mikhail Tal Sacrifices EVERYTHING - 27 Min - Gotham Chess
The Man Who Invented Brilliant Moves - 28 Min - Gotham Chess
Tal's Best Sacrifices - 54 Min - GM Ben Finegold
Great Players of the Past: Mikhail Tal - 46 Min - GM Ben Finegold
Ben Finegold analyzes Mikhail Tal's great attacking games! - 72 Min - GM Ben Finegold
