Boris Spasski, a former world chess champion, has passed away at the age of 88. The Russian Chess Federation and the European Chess Union confirmed the news on Thursday. Spasski, who held the world title from 1969 to 1972, left an indelible mark on the history of chess, not only through his achievements but also through his loss in the legendary duel against American Bobby Fischer.
Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Spasski’s exceptional talent became apparent early on. At the age of 18, he became the world’s youngest grandmaster in 1955. His elegant playing style, combining refined attacks with strategic depth, earned him the reputation of an exceptional player in the 1960s. In 1969, he crowned his career by dethroning his compatriot Tigran Petrosjan to win the world title.
Spasski’s entry in the history books, however, is owed less to his victories but to one of his bitterest defeats. In 1972, he faced the eccentric American Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, a duel that was not only sportingly but also politically charged, with the so-called “Battle of the Systems” – East versus West, Soviet Union versus the United States – making Spasski and Fischer global symbols.
After weeks of intense competition, Spasski lost, relinquished the title and became a legend despite it.
In 1976, Spasski left the Soviet Union and settled in France, where he lived for over three decades before returning to Russia in 2012. In the last years of his life, he gradually withdrew from the public eye, as health issues, including two strokes in 2006 and 2010, affected him.
“A great personality has left us, generations of chess players have learned from his games and work and will continue to do so” said Andrei Filatov, president of the Russian Chess Federation.
Spasski’s legacy remains alive in countless books, documentaries and films – even the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” paid homage to the Reykjavik match.
With his death, a chapter in chess history comes to a close – yet his games will continue to be analyzed, admired and loved. Boris Spasski was more than a world champion – he was a living chess legend.