Mikhail Tal

Chess Player

Birthday November 9, 1936

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace Riga, Latvia

DEATH DATE Jun 28, 1992 (55)

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About

Soviet chess master from Latvia who became just the eighth ever World Chess Champion in 1960.

Before Fame

He first competed for the Latvian Championship in 1951.

Trivia

He is considered by many to be the best attacking player of all time since, instead of playing defensively, he chose to play in a daring, combinatorial style.

Family Life

He married a Russian model in 1959 but later divorced.

Associated With

He and Boris Spassky are two of the top Soviet players of the mid-20th Century.