Chess Icon Boris Spassky Passes Away
Boris Spassky, celebrated as the 10th world chess champion for his legendary matches, has died at the age of 88. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Boris Spassky, the 10th world chess champion, has died at the age of 88, as confirmed by the Russian Chess Federation on Thursday.
Spassky is best remembered for his iconic "Match of the Century" against American Bobby Fischer during the Cold War in 1972.
“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,” stated Andrey Filatov, president of the federation, to TASS on Thursday.
Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Spassky showed remarkable talent for chess from the young age of five. He and his older brother were evacuated from Leningrad during World War II to the Kirov Region, where his passion for the game flourished.
In 1969, Spassky reached the height of his career by defeating Soviet-Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian to become world champion, with the match held in Moscow ending at 12.5 to 10.5 in favor of Spassky.
However, it was the 1972 World Chess Championship that truly solidified Spassky’s place in popular culture. Competing against Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, the match became emblematic of the Cold War, with Fischer ultimately winning 12.5 to 8.5, marking the first time an American claimed the world chess title.
Despite their fierce rivalry, Spassky and Fischer shared a mutual respect, culminating in a rematch in 1992 in which Fischer also triumphed.
Throughout his career, Spassky was recognized for his versatile playing style, blending aggressive tactics with deep positional insights. He participated in numerous Chess Olympiads representing the Soviet Union before emigrating to France in 1976, where he continued to compete on the international stage.
Spassky suffered a stroke in 2010 and returned to Russia in 2012. The Chess Federation's statement did not specify the details surrounding his passing or the cause.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
Spassky is best remembered for his iconic "Match of the Century" against American Bobby Fischer during the Cold War in 1972.
“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,” stated Andrey Filatov, president of the federation, to TASS on Thursday.
Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Spassky showed remarkable talent for chess from the young age of five. He and his older brother were evacuated from Leningrad during World War II to the Kirov Region, where his passion for the game flourished.
In 1969, Spassky reached the height of his career by defeating Soviet-Armenian grandmaster Tigran Petrosian to become world champion, with the match held in Moscow ending at 12.5 to 10.5 in favor of Spassky.
However, it was the 1972 World Chess Championship that truly solidified Spassky’s place in popular culture. Competing against Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, the match became emblematic of the Cold War, with Fischer ultimately winning 12.5 to 8.5, marking the first time an American claimed the world chess title.
Despite their fierce rivalry, Spassky and Fischer shared a mutual respect, culminating in a rematch in 1992 in which Fischer also triumphed.
Throughout his career, Spassky was recognized for his versatile playing style, blending aggressive tactics with deep positional insights. He participated in numerous Chess Olympiads representing the Soviet Union before emigrating to France in 1976, where he continued to compete on the international stage.
Spassky suffered a stroke in 2010 and returned to Russia in 2012. The Chess Federation's statement did not specify the details surrounding his passing or the cause.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
