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Tal, Mikhail

World Champion

classical era

Mikhail Tal, "The Magician from Riga," became the youngest World Champion at age 23 when he defeated Botvinnik in 1960 with a dazzling display of tactical brilliance, holding the title until 1961. His fearless, improvisational style -- defined by daring sacrifices and bewildering combinations -- captivated audiences and made him one of the most beloved figures in chess history. More of his games appear in collections of the greatest chess brilliancies than those of any other player.

Total Games

2431

Wins

982

Draws

1175

Losses

273

40.4% wins48.3% draws11.2% losses

Most Played Openings

A30 - English Opening: Wing Gambit40D41 - Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense29C92 - Ruy Lopez: Closed29A34 - English Opening: Symmetrical Variation28B85 - Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line26B48 - Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack24B17 - Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation24B43 - Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack23B06 - Modern Defense23B07 - Pirc Defense22

Most Faced Opponents

Botvinnik, Mikhail44 gamesKortschnoj, Viktor41 gamesPetrosian, Tigran V40 gamesSpassky, Boris V39 gamesLarsen, Bent39 gamesGeller, Efim P34 gamesTimman, Jan H33 gamesPortisch, Lajos32 gamesGligoric, Svetozar32 gamesBronstein, David I31 games

Featured Games

FCGFCG
0-1

Vaganian, Rafael A vs Tal, Mihail

Wch-blitz

1988

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FCGFCG
0-1

Gurevich, Dmitry vs Tal, Mihail

Wch-blitz

1988

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FCGFCG
1-0

Tal, Mihail vs Jussupow, Artur

Wch-blitz

1988

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FCGFCG
1-0

Tal, Mihail vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 23th

1960

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FCGFCG
0-1

Tal, Mihail vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 24th

1961

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FCGFCG
0-1

Szukszta, Janusz vs Tal, Mihail

WchT U26

1956

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FCGFCG
1-0

Tal, Mihail vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 24th

1961

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FCGFCG
1-0

Tal, Mihail vs Botvinnik, Mikhail

World Championship 23th

1960

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FCGFCG
1-0

Tal, Mihail vs Portisch, Lajos

WchT U26

1958

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FCGFCG
0-1

Tal, Mihail vs Smyslov, Vassily

Biel Interzonal

1976

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Games (2431)

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Tal, Mihail vs Gerusel, Mathias
1-0
Porz 1981 A29
Gipslis, Aivars vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 C42
Tal, Mihail vs Cabrilo, Goran
1-0
Lvov 1981 B67
Tal, Mihail vs Vogt, Lothar
1-0
Tallinn 1981 B83
Tal, Mihail vs Hort, Vlastimil
1/2-1/2
Porz 1981 D22
Tal, Mihail vs Mascarinas, Rico
1-0
Lvov 1981 B01
Tal, Mihail vs Miles, Anthony J
1-0
Porz 1981 B17
Tal, Mihail vs Djuric, Stefan
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 E80
Tal, Mihail vs Petursson, Margeir
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 D41
Tal, Mihail vs Tseshkovsky, Vitaly
1/2-1/2
Riga 1981 A30
Ambroz, Jan vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Riga 1981 B50
Tal, Mihail vs Romanishin, Oleg M
1/2-1/2
Lvov 1981 B46
Tal, Mihail vs Averbakh, Yuri L
1/2-1/2
Moscow-4teams 1981 D37
Tal, Mihail vs Buturin, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
Lvov 1981 A13
Tal, Mihail vs Meduna, Eduard
1-0
Lvov 1981 B14
Kengis, Edvins vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Riga 1981 B19
Rivas Pastor, Manuel vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Malaga 1981 D58
Hazai, Laszlo vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 B19
Rashkovsky, Nukhim N vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Lvov 1981 E01
Dorfman, Josif D vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Lvov 1981 D53
Tal, Mihail vs Calvo Minguez, Ricardo
1-0
Malaga 1981 B66
Ivkov, Borislav vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Malaga 1981 D55
Tal, Mihail vs Martin Gonzalez, Angel
1-0
Malaga 1981 A40
Tal, Mihail vs Bielczyk, Jacek
1-0
Riga 1981 E95
Tal, Mihail vs Fernandez Garcia, Jose L
1/2-1/2
Malaga 1981 D85
Tal, Mihail vs Schmidt, Bodo
1-0
Porz 1981 C06
Tal, Mihail vs Kochyev, Alexander
1-0
Moscow-4teams 1981 A29
Tal, Mihail vs Ftacnik, Lubomir
1-0
Tallinn 1981 B85
Averbakh, Yuri L vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Moscow-4teams 1981 A46
Troeger, Paul vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Porz 1981 A48
Tal, Mihail vs Vogt, Lothar
1-0
Riga 1981 B50
Barczay, Laszlo vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 B19
Nei, Iivo vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 A30
Gufeld, Eduard vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 B85
Mortensen, Erling vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Riga 1981 B85
Ivkov, Borislav vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Riga 1981 D55
Tal, Mihail vs Gipslis, Aivars
1-0
Riga 1981 B89
Tal, Mihail vs Romanishin, Oleg M
1/2-1/2
Riga 1981 B46
Lerner, Konstantin Z vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Lvov 1981 D55
Tal, Mihail vs Vera, Reynaldo
1/2-1/2
Malaga 1981 D32
Tal, Mihail vs Vooremaa, Andres
1-0
Tallinn 1981 C12
Tal, Mihail vs Vitolinsh, Alvis
1-0
Riga 1981 A30
Ostermeyer, Peter vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Porz 1981 B50
Tal, Mihail vs Veingold, Aleksandr
1-0
Tallinn 1981 C42
Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Malaga 1981 B82
Bagirov, Vladimir vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1981 E39
Adorjan, Andras vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Riga 1981 A38
Reefschlaeger, Helmut vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Porz 1981 E64
Kochyev, Alexander vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Moscow-4teams 1981 E01
Kupreichik, Viktor D vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Moscow-4teams 1981 B49
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