Los campeones del mundo que conocí: con un prólogo de Garry Kasparov

The World Champions I Knew: With a foreword by Garry Kasparov is a chess history book by Genna Sosonko that brings world champions into focus as people as well as legends. It is a compelling read for anyone interested in chess biography, the history of the game and writing that goes beyond tournament results.

What the book covers

The heart of the book is Mikhail Tal, the “Magician from Riga,” whose brilliance still fascinates chess fans around the world. Sosonko knew Tal personally as a friend and training partner, and that closeness gives the portrait its force: he presents him without polish, as a gifted genius with charm, sharp humour and a complicated nature. The result is not a monument, but a vivid and credible portrait of one of the most charismatic figures in chess history.

The collection also includes portraits of other world champions. Two come from an earlier era: Alexander Alekhine, described with the help of new research, and José Raúl Capablanca, whose portrait was also shaped by the author’s meetings with the champion’s widow, Olga Capablanca. Sosonko knew the other subjects personally during his travels and chess career, which gives these sketches an unusual sense of immediacy.

There are also portraits of Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov and Tigran Petrosian. Built from private conversations, memories and observations, they offer more than a record of results: they bring back the atmosphere of an era and an insider’s view of the people who shaped it.

Why it stands out

This is a book for anyone who enjoys chess not only for the games and combinations, but also for the people behind its history. Sosonko combines an insider’s perspective with the distance of a careful observer, making the book rewarding for experienced players as well as readers interested in culture, biography and twentieth-century history.

The author, Genna Sosonko, was born in Leningrad, worked as a chess trainer and moved to the Netherlands after emigrating from the USSR in 1972. He later became a world-class player and turned to writing after his active career, earning recognition for a style that blends the memory of a witness with the judgement of an author.

Key details

• Product type: chess history book
• Author: Genna Sosonko
• Foreword: by Garry Kasparov
• Subject: portraits of world chess champions
• Perspective: based on the author’s personal meetings, conversations and observations
• Notable focus: includes a central portrait of Mikhail Tal
• Included item: book