Mikhail Tal- A Biography; Beauty Over Accuracy, Tal's Genius In The Spotlight
Hello everyone! In today's blog post, we will be taking a deep dive into Mikhail Tal. Mikhail Tal, known for his crazy and often brilliant attacks. Many even think he is the greatest of all time. Today we will talk about his life, analyze his games, and more! I'm ready when you are ready. 😉
EARLY LIFE
Tal was born in Riga, Latvia into a Jewish family. According to his friend GM Gennadi Sosonko, his true father was only identified as a "family friend" and was called "Uncle Robert". However, this fact was denied by Tal's 3rd wife, Angelina.
Tal started competitive chess play at a young age, as he joined The Riga Palace of Young Pioneers Chess Club. In 1949, he played Ratmir Kholmov, who at the time, had recently competed in the Chigorin Memorial 1947, a prestigious tournament. Tal used a brilliant and amazing combination to beat him, at a mere age of 13.
In the same year, he got a new coach, Alexander Koblents, who is a chess master, writer, and most commonly known for being the coach of this superstar, Tal. Tal's play rapidly improved when he started to get tutored and in 1951 he qualified for the Latvian Championship. The next year, he qualified once again for the Latvian Championship, in which he finished higher than his own trainer. Tal won his first Latvian title in 1953, and was also awarded the CM (Candidate Master) title. In 1954, he became a SM (Soviet Master) by defeating Vladimir Saigin, an MOS (Master Of Sport). MOS is a soviet title known for being earned after many years of hard work.
LEADING UPTO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
In 1956, Tal made his first shot at fame at the 1956 USSR Chess Championship, sharing 5th place with greats such as GM Lev Polugaevsky and old opponent and chess master Ratmir Kholmov. Chess master Grigory Levenfish called him the "most colorful figure of the championship", highlighting his talent and his attacking style. After this, Tal went on to play in the Student's Championship in Sweden.
He later in 1957 became the youngest ever person to win the USSR Chess Championship, at age 20. He did not reach the conditions of GM (Grandmaster) yet, but FIDE decided to give him the GM title anyway, because of the amazing performance in the 1957 USSR Chess Championship.
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
GM Mikhail Tal was one of the elites that qualified for the 1959 Candidates placed in Yugoslavia. Mikhail Tal went on to win with a convincing score of 20/28, ahead of legends such as GM Paul Kere, GM Tigran Petrosian, and more. He had some amazing matches, including this win VS GM Fischer:
If the former world champion and arguably the BEST player of all time can't beat him, then who can?
He went on to play in the 1960 World Chess Championship, where he won against GM Mikhail Botvinnik in a tense battle. He won by 4 points, which is huge in World Championship world.
In 1961, the rematch between the two Mikhails, Tal lost to Botvinnik in a tense battle, losing 13-8. What helped Botvinnik get his revenge is that he analyzed Tal's games and came up with genius plan.
"I will not go into tactical middlegames where Tal hunts, for my chances are better in a boring endgame."
-Mikhail Botvinnik
Sure, he only had the title for 1 year, but he still is considered a legend to this day.
LATER LIFE
After Tal won the WCC 1960 and lost it in 1961, he won the 1961 Bled Supertournament in SFR, Yugoslavia with 14.5/19, just a point above Fischer. Tal then later played some more Candidates and qualifier events, but never got the right to play again in the WCC. In 1962, he had serious health problems, which caused him to get 7/21 in a big tournament. But then in 1964, he won the Amsterdam Interzonal, advanced to the big matches. But then he lost to GM Boris Spassky in the final. His health problems escalated, and then he went through a major slump in late 1968 to 1969, but he recovered from this slump after having a kidney removed. He went on to win the 1979 Riga Interzonal with 14/17. Later on in 1985, Tal played in the Candidates in France and got joint 4th, just shy of a place in the next advancement.
His last event that he played was the 1992 Moscow Blitz Tourney, where he broke out of his hospital to play. He won a game against GM Garry Kasparov.
He died a month after.
CONCLUSION
Tal is truly a genius of mankind. Sure, his attacks may not of been the soundest, but the fact that he calculates and comes up with these crazy ideas deserves a nod of respect. Tal may not be with us now, but he is with us with every brilliant move. Every attack. And that is the stuff that MATTERS.
Love, JETINATE
