The Russian Chess Federation announced on Thursday that Boris Spassky, the Soviet chess grandmaster, has passed away at 88 years old. He gained global recognition for his historic 1972 match against American Bobby Fischer during the Cold War.
“The tenth world champion Boris Spassky has died at 88,” stated the federation, describing it as a “great loss for the country.”
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Spassky’s legacy centres on the 1972 World Chess Championship against Fischer, a contest that reflected the political tensions between the United States and Soviet Union.
After becoming world champion in 1969, Spassky faced significant pressure to uphold Soviet chess supremacy, which had persisted since 1948. Although he initially led the match, Fischer staged a remarkable recovery, defeating him and ending Soviet control of the world title.
Following the match, Spassky revealed that losing brought unexpected relief, as it released him from what he termed a “colossal responsibility.”
Born in Leningrad (present-day Saint Petersburg) in 1937, Spassky displayed exceptional chess talent early, claiming the World Junior Championship and becoming the youngest grandmaster at age 18.
His famous contest with Fischer has inspired numerous creative works, including books, documentaries and films. The match also influenced Walter Tevis’s novel The Queen’s Gambit, later adapted into a successful Netflix series in 2020.
