Original: In 1960 , at the age of 23 , Tal thoroughly defeated the relatively staid and strategic Mikhail Botvinnik in a World Championship match , held in Moscow , by 12 1/2 -- 8 1/2 ( six wins , two losses , and thirteen draws ) , making him the youngest-ever world champion ( a record later broken by Garry Kasparov , who earned the title at 22 ) .
Simplified: In 1960 , at the age of 23 , Tal defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in the Moscow World Championship match , by 12.5 -- 8.5 ( six wins , two losses , and thirteen draws ) .