The 8th chess champion in the world: Tal

There has never been a world champion who has been so loved and talked about so much, so much controversy, as Tal. People loved his excellent chess skills, his modesty, his quick wit, his apologetic smile, his gentleness and his concern for people. But others feel very sorry because Tal has no "character" at all. People say it's as impossible to be angry with Tal as it is to be angry with a child.

In his method of playing chess, Tal is a bit like the masters of the last century, he rarely does advance research and analysis, and often improvises. On this point, Botvinnik writes: "The masters of the past were mainly 'improvisers'... but at the end of the last century a new trend has emerged in chess - the research [trend]. It helps our players win world glory. If I am, by all accounts, first and foremost a research analyst, then Tarr is an excellent 'improviser' and tactician."

Mihal Tal was born in Riga on November 9, 1936. He showed amazing talent in mathematics and music in his childhood. When he was in the first grade, his amazed teacher told him to switch to the third grade because he could multiply three digits - and barely skipped another grade! Yet he rose even more rapidly in chess. He learned chess at the age of seven, joined a chess team at the age of 11, and was awarded the title of Master (one of the four levels of chess) at 18.

Of course, it is not this title that has caused a sensation in the world of chess, and there are still many players who have won this title at this age. What impressed the chess world was his "improvisational" approach and creation of chess skills. He stunned his opponents and audiences, as well as the international chess world, with his totally special and dazzling approach. When the chess players in order to improve the performance of a certain boredom, there is a completely different style of the strange man, it is amazing. He won with quick thinking, daring and breaking the seemingly unshakable routine, bringing a breath of fresh air to the chess world.

Thus began the "Four years of Tal" in the world of chess. Such as in the Soviet Championship - another gold medal and a silver medal (back in 1956 Tal won his first all-Soviet championship at the age of 20). He won first place in the World Championship series - the Interzone and the Candidates, and won the match against Botvinnik (6-2, 13-13), and became world champion in 1960. In addition to the Chess Olympiad and the University Olympiad, in the European Championship, Tal scored 80% of the points, and won the major international tournament in Zurich and the smaller international tournament in Stockholm. (Introduction to the World Chess Championship and previous chess champions) "The 20th Century's Grinch!" "Tal is a modern Murphy!" "Tal's name is Lucky, his last name is lucky, and he is a lucky man!" "Tal hypnotizes his opponents!" This is how journalists describe it, in order to express their own degree of admiration and to try to uncover Tal's "mystery". International Grandmaster Raggokin's description is much more profound and serious:

"First, strive to be first at all costs, often regardless of the loss of strength, but also regardless of the situation becomes worse; Second, the pieces coordinate with each other and make them energetic and unrestrained; Third, Zi Li focus on the main character on the chessboard - the king! Fourthly, the drastic change of the situation by the method of abandonment, which is probably the most dangerous weapon, Tal skillfully employed in any situation; Fifth, be not afraid of sharp situations of uncertainty. These are the basic characteristics that make up Tal's style."

It should be added that Tarr's opponents rarely play games, and almost always find out in hindsight that his plans can be broken! He never demands to be infallible. But as Tarr himself said, "Try to solve the problem I have set in the field of battle, where delay in thinking is suicide." The victory in the World Championship ended the famous four years of ° Tal. In the 1961 return match, Tal's "improvisation" was crushed by a "plan" specifically prepared to deal with it. Years later Botvinnik recalled this match and said, "Tal's calculations were more profound and correct than mine (even in my best years), but in most matches I was able to make this advantage of his insignificant." Tarr has said more than once that every chess player is the architect of his own happiness. In his view, chess itself is the source of happiness: "Although the chess player's life is restless, endless battles, exhausting choices, and intense competition, he obtains a joy that people in other professions lack - a chess player who plays a wonderful game is a true work of art." No matter what the fate of a chess player, how many setbacks accompany him, he can always be proud of a few hard fights, a few ideas, even a few moves." Tal shocked the chess world, surprising even the most sober onlookers. He has identified and shown the world that there are some extraordinary possibilities in chess, revealing here a beauty that was previously unknown. After a long illness, Tal died in 1992 at the age of 56, causing deep mourning in the chess world.