Boris Spassky obit

Chess legend Boris Spassky dies at 88

 

He was not on the list.

Boris Spassky (pictured right), the 10th World Chess Champion and chess legend, passed away on Thursday at 88. Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Spassky became the World Chess Champion in 1969.

Spassky was renowned for his rivalry with American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer (pictured left). Their most notable encounter was the 1972 World Chess Championship in Reykjavik, Iceland, often dubbed the "Match of the Century."

Beyond his competitive achievements, Spassky's adaptability and sportsmanship left a lasting impact on the chess community.

Spassky played three world championship matches: he lost to Tigran Petrosian in 1966; defeated Petrosian in 1969 to become world champion; then lost to Bobby Fischer in a famous match in 1972.

Spassky won the Soviet Chess Championship twice outright (1961, 1973), and twice lost in playoffs (1956, 1963), after tying for first place during the event proper. He was a World Chess Championship candidate on seven occasions (1956, 1965, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1980, and 1985). In addition to his candidates wins in 1965 and 1968, Spassky reached the semi-final stage in 1974 and the final stage in 1977.

Spassky emigrated to France in 1976 and became a French citizen in 1978. He continued to compete in tournaments but was no longer a major contender for the world title. Spassky lost an unofficial rematch against Fischer in 1992. In 2012, he left France and returned to Russia.