The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal | Mikhail Tal

The 'Magician from Riga,' Mikhail Tal, cemented his legacy as the greatest attacking World Chess Champion. This delightful memoir shares his extraordinary story, infused with humour and personality.

Considered one of the greatest chess books ever published, “Life and Games of Mikhail Tal” offers a fascinating glimpse into his brilliant and complex personality. 
In the foreword, written by legendary Grandmaster John Nunn, he pays tribute to Mikhail Tal, stating: “Mikhail Tal was a remarkable man. His brilliant successes in the years leading up to his World Championship victory excited the chess world; his name became synonymous with brilliance and attacking flair. He had a warm and engaging personality without a hint of malice. His enthusiasm for the game he loved was unquenchable.”

• This book is ideally suited for intermediate to advanced players
• Gain unique insights into Tal’s creative and aggressive playing style
• Enjoy candid discussions of his successes and failures
• Behind-the-scenes stories from famous tournaments and matches
• Inspirational if you are looking to improve your attacking skills!
• Be inspired by his sheer genius and humour

Reader’s Reviews:

Every chess enthusiast should own this book, celebrating the legendary Mikhail Tal. He electrified the chess world with his daring play, overturning the conventional wisdom of his era, where home preparation and memorization reigned supreme. Once considered unbeatable, his stunning victory over Botvinnik cemented his status as one of the all-time greats - G Jericho

Every chess lover should have this book that honours the legendary Mikhail Tal. He captivated the chess community with his bold and unconventional style, challenging the norms of his time, which heavily favoured preparation and memorization. His remarkable victory over Mikhail Botvinnik, once deemed unbeatable, solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players in chess history – Lederlin

About the Author:

Mikhail Nekhemyevich Tal (9 November 1936 – 28 June 1992) was a Soviet and Latvian chess player and the eighth World Chess Champion. He is considered a creative genius and is widely regarded as one of the most influential players in chess history. Tal played in an attacking and daring combinatorial style. His play was known, above all, for improvisation and unpredictability. Vladislav Zubok said of him, "Every game for him was as inimitable and invaluable as a poem".
His nickname was "Misha", a diminutive for Mikhail, and he earned the nickname "The Magician from Riga". Both The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games and Modern Chess Brilliancies include more games by Tal than any other player. He also held the record for the longest unbeaten streak in competitive chess history with 95 games (46 wins, 49 draws) between 23 October 1973 and 16 October 1974.

Other Details:

Paperback
Pages: 496
Dimensions: 15 x 3.2 x 21.6cm
ISBN-13: 9781857442021