Team Tal An Inside Story

First Published In Russian In 2016 And Written By Valentin Kirillov - Mikhail Tals Close Friend, Sparring Partner, Team Member And Second - This Memoir Describes Key Events From Tals Life, Portrays His Mentors And Opponents, And Reveals Previously Unknown Facts And Funny Stories About The Magician Of Riga. A Real Collectors' Item For All True Tal Fans, It Provides Color On Janis Kruzkops, Who Was Tals First Coach And Who Died Tragically Young, Tals Mentor Alexander Koblencs, And The Chess Masters To Whom Tal Was Close, Including Genna Sosonko, Aivars Gipslis, Janis Klovans, Alvis Vitolins, The Young Alexei Shirov, And Kirillov Himself, As Well As The Mysterious Doctor Joseph Geikhman. It Also Traces The Efforts Of The Latvian Chess Community To Preserve And Build On Tals Memory After His Death, In Particular With The Attempt To Establish A Tal Museum And Hold Regular Tournaments In His Honor.