GM Mihail Marin is a prolific and popular author, trainer, and 3-time Romanian national champion. He has made numerous contributions to the chess canon but is probably best known for the book Learn from the Legends, published in 2005, which received high praise from GM Daniel Naroditsky, IM Jeremy Silman, and many others. In 2025, its much-anticipated sequel, Learn from the Legends 2: Chess Heroes at Their Best has finally been released. GM Marin joined me to discuss:
The different format chosen for this sequel compared to the original
Things to know about each of the players featured in Mihail's new book: GMs Stein, Keres, Bronstein, Portisch, and Polugaevsky
His own rise up the chess ranks
Why chess was a uniquely appealing profession in Communist Romania
GM Marin has accumulated a litany of stories from a life among the world's top players, and it is always a pleasure to speak with him! Timestamps of topics discussed are below."
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Prior Interview- Episode 316
https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2023/2/7/ep-316-gm-mihail-marin-the-renowned-author-and-trainer-on-learning-from-larsen-tal-polgar-and-other-legends
0:00- What was Mihail Marin’s approach to chess improvement as an up and coming player?
Mentioned: Karpov-Unzicker 1975
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067846
Also mentioned: GM Florin Gheorghiu, GM Mihai Suba . Psakhis-Marin 2000
17:00- Mihail shares a little bit about each player covered in Learn from the Legends 2, including Stein, Polugaevsky, Bronstein, Keres and Portisch
Mentioned: Korchnoi-Portisch Candidates Match 1983
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=93347
Also mentioned: Bronstein’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Keres-Benko 1962 (adjourned on move 41)
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1072970
GM Jan Timman’s Curacao 1962: The Battle That Shook the Chess World
https://www.amazon.com/Curacao-1962-Battle-Minds-Shook/dp/9056911392
34:00- In the modern chess age is it still possible to have a distinct chess style?
Mentioned:
Spassky Fischer, game 8, move 15:
https://lichess.org/study/FeAwvrlI/nNPKlIqp
Spassky-Polgar 1993-
https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=1762744
45:00- Is Mihail following the Freestyle Chess Tour?
53:00- Is Mihail following the Women’s World Championship?
54:00- How is Mihail preparing for his imminent tournament?
Mentioned: Dorfman’s The Method in Chess
Petr Izmailov: From Chess Champion of Russia to Enemy of the People
https://chess.co.uk/products/petr-izmailov-from-chess-champion-of-russia-to-enemy-of-the-people-nikolai-izmailov
58:00- GM Marin discusses his next projects: a Chessable course, and a forthcoming book about his chess hero, GM VIktor Korchnoi
Mentioned:
1:08:00- Mihail’s recommended European chess tournaments
Alicante chess tournament 2025:
https://chessnews.info/ix-international-chess-open-easter-2025/
Seville:
https://www.modern-chess.com/tournaments?id=1450
1:10:00- Thanks to Mihail for joining me again!
Here is how to keep up with him:
Learn From the Legends 2:
https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Legends-2-Mihail-Marin/dp/1784832162
Forward Chess:
https://forwardchess.com/product/learn-from-the-legends2-chess-heroes-at-their-best
Watch here for his forthcoming Chessable course:
https://www.chessable.com/author/MihailMarin/
If you would like to help support Perpetual Chess via Patreon, you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/perpetualchess/
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