Chess Grandmaster Boris Spassky Passes Away
Boris Spassky, the 10th world chess champion celebrated for his iconic matches, has died at the age of 88. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**Boris Spassky, Soviet Grandmaster Famous for Match of the Century Against Bobby Fischer, Dies at 88**
Boris Spassky, the 10th world chess champion, has died at the age of 88, as announced by the Russian Chess Federation on Thursday.
Spassky is best remembered for his "Match of the Century" against American Bobby Fischer in 1972, a highlight of Cold War-era chess rivalry.
“A great personality has passed away; generations of chess players have learned and continue to learn from his games and work. It’s a great loss for the country. Condolences to family and friends. Eternal memory,” said Andrey Filatov, president of the Russian Chess Federation, in a statement to TASS on Thursday.
Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Spassky began his chess journey at just five years old, demonstrating extraordinary talent from an early age. During World War II, he and his older brother were evacuated from Leningrad to Kirov Region, a time that deepened his passion for the game.
In 1969, Spassky reached the peak of his career when he defeated Soviet-Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian, becoming the world champion. The match, held in Moscow, ended with a score of 12.5 to 10.5 in Spassky's favor.
However, it was the 1972 World Chess Championship that solidified Spassky's legacy in popular culture. While competing against Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, the match transcended the chessboard, becoming a symbolic face-off during Cold War tensions. Dubbed the Match of the Century, Fischer emerged triumphant with a score of 12.5 to 8.5, making history as the first American to claim the world chess title.
Despite the fierce rivalry, Spassky and Fischer shared a mutual respect that endured beyond the 1972 event, leading to a rematch in 1992, which Fischer also won.
Renowned for his versatile playing style, Spassky could execute both aggressive strategies and deep positional plays. He represented the Soviet Union in multiple Chess Olympiads and later moved to France in 1976, where he continued his chess career and competed for his new country in international tournaments.
In 2010, Spassky suffered a stroke and returned to Russia in 2012. The Chess Federation's statement did not specify the exact circumstances of his death.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Boris Spassky, the 10th world chess champion, has died at the age of 88, as announced by the Russian Chess Federation on Thursday.
Spassky is best remembered for his "Match of the Century" against American Bobby Fischer in 1972, a highlight of Cold War-era chess rivalry.
“A great personality has passed away; generations of chess players have learned and continue to learn from his games and work. It’s a great loss for the country. Condolences to family and friends. Eternal memory,” said Andrey Filatov, president of the Russian Chess Federation, in a statement to TASS on Thursday.
Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Spassky began his chess journey at just five years old, demonstrating extraordinary talent from an early age. During World War II, he and his older brother were evacuated from Leningrad to Kirov Region, a time that deepened his passion for the game.
In 1969, Spassky reached the peak of his career when he defeated Soviet-Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian, becoming the world champion. The match, held in Moscow, ended with a score of 12.5 to 10.5 in Spassky's favor.
However, it was the 1972 World Chess Championship that solidified Spassky's legacy in popular culture. While competing against Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, the match transcended the chessboard, becoming a symbolic face-off during Cold War tensions. Dubbed the Match of the Century, Fischer emerged triumphant with a score of 12.5 to 8.5, making history as the first American to claim the world chess title.
Despite the fierce rivalry, Spassky and Fischer shared a mutual respect that endured beyond the 1972 event, leading to a rematch in 1992, which Fischer also won.
Renowned for his versatile playing style, Spassky could execute both aggressive strategies and deep positional plays. He represented the Soviet Union in multiple Chess Olympiads and later moved to France in 1976, where he continued his chess career and competed for his new country in international tournaments.
In 2010, Spassky suffered a stroke and returned to Russia in 2012. The Chess Federation's statement did not specify the exact circumstances of his death.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
