#18. My Mischa | The Essential Sosonko New In Chess Podcast

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, “Mischa” dethroned reigning World Champion Botvinnik to claim the World Chess Championship in 1960. Widely acclaimed as a genius, Mischa’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 Mischa” is a retelling of Genna’s twenty-five year friendship with Mischa. 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 – Mischa’s victory in the 1959 Candidates Tournament

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

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

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

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

6:55 – Mischa’s very complicated family

10:16 – Mischa’s simple and lazy lifestyle

11:57 – Alcohol

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

15:23 – Mischa’s poor health, addiction

16:40 – AD BREAK

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

20:03 – Genna’s personal Mischa stories

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

30:14 – Genna’s last letter from Mischa
32:26 - Outro