Chess Icon Boris Spasski Dies at 88

The former world chess champion, known for his legendary 1972 match against Bobby Fischer, leaves behind a lasting legacy in the chess world.

Boris Spasski, the 10th world chess champion, passed away at the age of 88, as confirmed by the Russian Chess Federation and the European Chess Union.
Spasski held the world championship title from 1969 to 1972 and was celebrated for his elegant playing style and numerous victories.
He is best remembered for his 1972 World Chess Championship match in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he faced and lost to American Bobby Fischer in a contest that symbolized Cold War tensions.
Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in 1937, Spasski emigrated to France in 1976 but returned to Russia in 2012, marking a full-circle journey in his life.
His death marks the end of an era, as Spasski was the oldest living former world chess champion following the passing of Vasily Smyslov in 2010.