#18. Mikhail Tal: My Misha | The Essential Sosonko

This week’s episode of the New In Chess Podcast features a narration from Genna Sosonko’s “The Essential Sosonko”. The subject of this week’s audiobook is one of the most beloved and inspiring chess players of all time: Mikhail Tal. With his fierce attacking style, “Misha” dethroned reigning World Champion Botvinnik to claim the World Chess Championship in 1960. Widely acclaimed as a genius, Misha’s tactical play would produce numerous brilliancies, as well as a 95-game unbeaten streak, a record that would stand for over forty years.

Narrated by professional voice actor Nick Murphy, “My Misha” is a retelling of Genna’s twenty-five year friendship with Misha. It is a first-hand account of everything the “Magician from Riga” was known for: his striking appearance, his notoriously unhealthy lifestyle, his complicated family dynamics, but most importantly: his deep love of chess.

The hard-copy of the entire "The Essential Sosonko" is available on the New In Chess Website: 

https://www.newinchess.com/the-essential-sosonko 

0:00 – Intro

1:15 – Misha’s victory in the 1959 Candidates Tournament

1:52 – Misha’s early reputation as a reckless player

2:53 – Stories of Misha’s first meeting with Mikhail Botvinnik

3:47 – Genna’s experience analysing openings with Misha

5:34 – Misha’s deep love of chess, especially blitz

6:55 – Misha’s very complicated family

10:16 – Misha’s simple and lazy lifestyle

11:57 – Alcohol

13:36 – Misha’s talent on the piano despite his physical deformity, his love of football

15:23 – Misha’s poor health, addiction

16:40 – AD BREAK

17:19 – Misha’s imposing appearance, piercing eyes, and mental strength

20:03 – Genna’s personal Misha stories

27:35 – Witnessing Misha’s declining health, Misha’s last tournaments

30:14 – Genna’s last letter from Misha

32:26 - Outro