Mikhail Tal

Mikhail Nechemjewitsch Tal ( Latvian Mihails valley; Russian Михаил Нехемьевич Таль / Mikhail Nechemjewitsch valley; born November 9, 1936 in Riga, † June 27, 1992 in Moscow) was a Latvian / Soviet chess player and from 1960 to 1961, the eighth World Chess Champion.

Life and career

Since his parents were Jewish, his family was evacuated in 1941 after the German invasion of the Soviet Union from Latvia. Although the escape succeeded, but the family lost all their possessions. At the age of seven years Valley learned the game of chess. In 1949, his lifelong collaboration with Alexander Koblenz, the coach had a decisive impact on the career valley began. During school valley skipped two classes. He began studying Russian language and literature, which he completed the state exam in 1958. However, he turned early to the professional chess.

In 1959, he won the Candidates tournament, where he among other things, the young Bobby Fischer in four games four times hit. In the subsequent competition in 1960 he beat Mikhail Botvinnik 12.5 to 8.5 and became the eighth world chess champion. However, the valley lost the rematch a year later with 8 to 13 because Botvinnik had meticulously prepared and adjusted to the enemy and had the better physique. Even then, the valley had health problems. In addition to that, he probably underestimated the preparation and excessive lifestyle preferred. In September 1960 he reached his best historical Elo rating 2793rd

In subsequent years, the valley took repeatedly attempts to regain the world title: The candidate competition in 1965, he lost in the final against Boris Spassky in 1968 in the semi-final against Viktor Korchnoi and 1980 in the quarterfinals against Lew Polugajewski.

Surprisingly fetched valley in later years but still a title in 1988, he became world champion in blitz chess, pointing the entire world elite in their place. Phenomenal were his achievements in chess Olympiads. Between 1958 and 1982 the valley was no less than eight times (1958, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1980 and 1982), member of the victorious Soviet team. With a total score of 81.2 percent gain points ( 82 points out of 101 games) he always had great share in the victory of his team.

Although he played risky and unstable, he had attained great tournament successes after losing the world title: he won a total of six times the Soviet Championship (1957, 1958, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978), only Botvinnik had the same number. He remained in 93 consecutive games ( between October 1973 and October 1974) unbeaten, what has been achieved to date by any other grandmasters.

Again and again had problems with the Chess Valley functionaries of the Soviet Union, which is why occasional trips abroad were denied him, and he did not get the support that other chess grandmasters in the Soviet Union was given. He also played in the German Bundesliga, for example, in the 1989/90 season on the first board of SK Zehlendorf, a year later at SG Porz.

Since 2006 he is the Valley Memorial annually held in Moscow in honor.

Health

Although he may have been born because of wrong medication his mother during pregnancy, due to a Ectrodactyly with only three fingers on his right hand, played valley table tennis, piano and during school football.

Throughout his life troubled him his health. Although he was seriously suffer from kidney disease, he smoked a lot, drank excessively and was temporarily morphine- dependent. This was also a reason for his strong performance fluctuations.

On June 27, 1992, he succumbed to kidney disease in a Moscow hospital.

Game style

Valley style was influenced very tactical, spectacular, but also risky. His virtuoso combination play put him in his own lifetime a monument in the chess world. Often succeeded him how to start from scratch with material sacrifice an attack against his opponents on the board did not obtain sufficient defense, but very often an in-depth analysis could not withstand. Because of this spectacular valley style was extremely popular with chess fans, especially since he was also personally affable and unconventional. Valley is also one of the players, which you nachsagte chess obsession and a hypnotic look. Interzonal 1959, the American grandmaster Pál Benkő approached even with a pair of sunglasses to protect yourself from valley view, the game lost yet.

Valley is also an excellent commentator who does not lose himself in a multitude of variations, but the gaze is directed to the essentials. His book about his successful world championship fight with Botvinnik regarded as a classic of chess literature.