Chess champion’s competitor in historic match passes away
Soviet grandmaster Anatoly Karpov was among the first to react, telling TASS state news agency: “He was always one of my main idols.” Spassky is most famous for his legendary match against American Bobby Fischer in 1972, which symbolized the confrontation between East and West. This match went down in history as the “match of the century.” The Soviet chess legend led a varied life, alternating between high-stakes battles against the top players of the time and periods of seclusion. Born in 1937 in Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, Spassky demonstrated exceptional talent early on, becoming the junior world champion and the youngest grandmaster in history at just 18 years old. He began playing chess at the age of five in an orphanage, having escaped Leningrad with his family during the Nazi siege in World War II. Recognized for his bold playing style and fearlessness in sacrificing pieces, Spassky received support from his peers and the state, which provided him with a scholarship and a coach. Despite initially living in the shadow of another rising star in Soviet chess, Mikhail Tal, Spassky made a remarkable comeback in 1961 by winning the USSR Championship. Eight years later, he defeated his fellow countryman Tigran Petrosian to claim the world title. Reflecting on his achievements, Spassky remarked in 2016, “I never aimed to become world champion. Everything fell into place naturally. I progressed rapidly.” Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric noted that Spassky’s strength lay in his ability to adapt to his opponents’ styles, as reported by the Washington Post. However, Spassky’s reign as world champion lasted only three years. In 1972, he faced off against the American prodigy Fischer in Iceland in a match that would define his career. With the Cold War tensions at their peak and the Soviet Union’s chess dominance on the line, Spassky encountered a formidable challenge from the outspoken 29-year-old Fischer. Despite an initially strong performance by Spassky, Fischer made a remarkable comeback to clinch victory, ending the uninterrupted streak of Soviet world champions since 1948. While the defeat was a blow to Moscow, Spassky expressed relief at shedding the “colossal responsibility.” Following his loss, Spassky’s popularity waned. In 1976, he relocated to France after marrying a Frenchwoman of Russian descent, eventually acquiring French citizenship in 1978. Spassky retreated from the public eye until he engaged in an unofficial rematch against Fischer in Yugoslavia in 1992. In his final years, he grappled with health issues and a mysterious family dispute.
In 2012, Spassky traveled to Russia with the assistance of a sponsor, despite the objections of his wife and sister. Following his return, Spassky expressed his determination to restart from the beginning, stating confidently on Russian television, “I have to start over from scratch, but I’m not afraid.”
During a previous visit in 2008, Spassky paid tribute to his former competitor, Fischer, who had passed away that year and was laid to rest in a small cemetery in Iceland. While at the gravesite, Spassky inquired with accompanying journalists about the availability of a neighboring plot, showcasing his unique sense of humor.
Residing in Moscow at the time of his passing, Spassky’s family notified the chess federation of his demise, as confirmed by the federation’s executive director, Alexander Tkachev, in a statement to RIA Novosti news agency. The Associated Press also contributed to the coverage of this event.
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