This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features a narration from “The Essential Sosonko”, a collection of chess portraits and stories authored by chess grandmaster Genna Sosonko. The subject of this week’s episode is Latvian grandmaster Mikhail Tal.
Known for his daring, imaginative play, Tal, often called "The Magician from Riga," mesmerised the chess world with his audacious approach to the game. His legacy includes a stellar achievement as the eighth World Chess Champion, a title he claimed in 1960 at the tender age of 23, making him one of the youngest ever to do so. Tal's career, however, was marred by poor health, which often impacted his ability to sustain his peak competitive performance. Despite these challenges, his brilliance at the chessboard remained undimmed, showcasing his resilience and determination.
Narrated by professional voice actor Nick Murphy, this week’s episode about Mikhail Tal is different from the two-part “My Misha” series from May of this year. Instead of an active participant, Genna is more of a background figure this time. However, this does not make his retelling of Tal’s stories any less vivid.
Enjoy this week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast!