Background
TAL, Mikhail was born in 1936 in Riga.
TAL, Mikhail was born in 1936 in Riga.
1957 graduated Latvia University, Riga.
1953-1955 placed 1st in Latvia Championship. 1957, 1958 and 1959 placed 1st in USSR Championship. 1958 and 1960 participated in World Team Championships in Munich and Leipzig, at which USSR team took 1st place to become world champions.
1959 placed first in elimination tournament for Grand Masters of International Chess Federation, held in Yugoslavia by right of play against world champion M. Botvinnik. 1960 beat Botvinnik to become world champion. 1961 lost world championship to Botvinnik.
1953-1957 Master of Sport of USSR for chess.