The World Champions 8 - Mikhail Tal

Mikhail Tal's reign as World Champion was brief, but his influence is as strong as ever. The Magician from Riga captivated the chess world with his daring attacking style, fuelled by intuition and brilliant sacrifices. His legacy is defined by his genius on the board, his charismatic personality and his belief that every chess game should be played like an inimitable poem.

Garry Kasparov holds the longest reign as World Champion in the modern era, as well as the longest run atop the rating list. He was a lifelong friend of Tal.

Grandmaster Jacob Aagaard is widely considered one of the greatest chess authors and trainers of his generation.

Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam is the premier chess journalist of our age and the Chief Editor of New In Chess Magazine