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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 Miles, Anthony J
1/2-1/2
Bugojno 1978 A34
Huebner, Robert vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Bugojno 1978 D75
Hort, Vlastimil vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Bugojno 1978 A36
Kuzmin, Gennadi P vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
URS-ch46 1978 E55
Bukic, Enver vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Bugojno 1978 E15
Tal, Mihail vs Dorfman, Josif D
1-0
URS-ch46 1978 D31
Bagirov, Vladimir vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
URS-ch46 1978 A34
Tal, Mihail vs Byrne, Robert E
1-0
Bugojno 1978 B70
Tal, Mihail vs Pribyl, Josef
1-0
Tallinn 1977 D58
Adorjan, Andras vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Las Palmas 1977 B51
Tal, Mihail vs Vadasz, Laszlo
0-1
Tallinn 1977 B06
Tal, Mihail vs Garcia Gonzales, Guillermo
1-0
October Revolution 60 1977 B06
Nei, Iivo vs Tal, Mihail
1-0
Tallinn 1977 A28
Tal, Mihail vs Zhuravliov, Valerij
1-0
Sochi 1977 A34
Pomar Salamanca, Arturo vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Las Palmas 1977 A00
Tal, Mihail vs Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel
1-0
Las Palmas 1977 E19
Browne, Walter S vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Las Palmas 1977 E18
Gipslis, Aivars vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Tallinn 1977 B66
Mariotti, Sergio vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
October Revolution 60 1977 B53
Tal, Mihail vs Bagirov, Vladimir
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 B05
Tal, Mihail vs Karner, Hillar
1-0
Sochi 1977 C07
Poutiainen, Pertti vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Tallinn 1977 A34
Cabrera, Gabriel vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Las Palmas 1977 E96
Dorfman, Josif D vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 A43
Tal, Mihail vs Velimirovic, Dragoljub
1-0
EU-chT 1977 E90
Tal, Mihail vs Kuzmin, Gennadi P
1-0
October Revolution 60 1977 C99
Tal, Mihail vs Vogt, Lothar
1/2-1/2
October Revolution 60 1977 C95
Tal, Mihail vs Tringov, Georgi P
1/2-1/2
EU-chT 1977 B92
Tal, Mihail vs Vaganian, Rafael A
0-1
October Revolution 60 1977 A34
Miles, Anthony J vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
Las Palmas 1977 A34
Suetin, Alexey S vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Sochi 1977 C42
Taimanov, Mark E vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
October Revolution 60 1977 D75
Tal, Mihail vs Tatai, Stefano
1-0
Las Palmas 1977 C79
Kuzmin, Gennadi P vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
URS-ch45 1977 B80
Tal, Mihail vs Ornstein, Axel
1-0
Tallinn 1977 B30
Gulko, Boris F vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 E20
Sveshnikov, Evgeny vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
URS-ch45 1977 B14
Gulko, Boris F vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Tallinn 1977 B22
Heuer, Valter vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Tallinn 1977 B85
Gheorghiu, Florin vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
October Revolution 60 1977 D42
Tal, Mihail vs Nunn, John DM
1/2-1/2
EU-chT 1977 D32
Pfleger, Helmut vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
EU-chT 1977 A47
Tal, Mihail vs Durao, Joaquim
1-0
Sochi 1977 C95
Unzicker, Wolfgang vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
Tallinn 1977 B92
Tal, Mihail vs Balashov, Yuri S
0-1
URS-ch45 1977 B96
Tal, Mihail vs Romanishin, Oleg M
1/2-1/2
October Revolution 60 1977 C67
Tal, Mihail vs Balashov, Yuri S
1/2-1/2
October Revolution 60 1977 C99
Tukmakov, Vladimir B vs Tal, Mihail
0-1
URS-ch45 1977 A34
Kochyev, Alexander vs Tal, Mihail
1/2-1/2
URS-ch45 1977 A87
Tal, Mihail vs Klaric, Zlatko
1-0
Sochi 1977 A42
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