Mikhail Tal

Mikhail Nekhemyevich Tal (Latvian: Mihails Tāls; Russian: Михаил Нехемьевич Таль, Mikhail Nekhem'evich Tal, pronounced [mʲɪxɐˈiɫ nʲɪˈxʲemʲɪvʲɪtɕ ˈtalʲ]; sometimes transliterated Mihails Tals or Mihail Tal; 9 November 1936 – 28 June 1992) was a Soviet chess Grandmaster and the eighth World Chess Champion (from 1960 to 1961). Widely regarded as a creative genius and one of the best attacking players of all time, Tal played in a daring, combinatorial style. His play was known above all for improvisation and unpredictability. It has been said that “Every game for him was as inimitable and invaluable as a poem". He was often called "Misha", a diminutive for Mikhail, and "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. In addition, Tal was a highly regarded chess writer. He also previously held the record for the longest unbeaten streak (95 games) in competitive chess history, until Ding Liren's 100-game streak from 9 August 2017 to 11 November 2018. The Mikhail Tal Memorial has been held in Moscow annually since 2006 to honour Tal's memory.