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2mo ago

Boris Spassky, Former Chess World Champion, Dies at 88

Spassky, a Cold War chess icon, is remembered for his 1972 match against Bobby Fischer and his multifaceted legacy in the chess world.

Former world chess champion Bobby Fischer (R) gestures during his match against his archrival Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union, in the Yugoslav resort of Sveti Stefan in this September 1992 file photo./File Photo
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Overview

  • Boris Spassky, the 10th World Chess Champion (1969-1972), passed away on February 27, 2025, in Moscow at the age of 88.
  • Spassky is most famous for his historic 1972 World Chess Championship match in Reykjavik against Bobby Fischer, which became a Cold War symbol of ideological rivalry.
  • Despite losing the title to Fischer, Spassky was renowned for his elegant and versatile playing style, blending defense and attack with precision.
  • Born in Leningrad in 1937, Spassky learned chess as a child during World War II and became the youngest international grandmaster in 1955.
  • After emigrating to France in the 1970s, Spassky continued his chess career and maintained a complex relationship with Fischer, culminating in a 1992 rematch.