TWIC is 30. First issue 17th September 1994.
Boris Spassky (1937-2025)
Boris Spassky 1937-2025
Mark Crowther - Thursday 27th February 2025
Petrosian losing his title to Spassy in 1969. | https://www.theweekinchess.com
Boris Vasilievich Spassky was born in Leningrad January 30th 1937 and has died in Moscow February 27th 2025 at the age of 88. The former World Chess Champion played two championship matches against Tigran Petrosian, winning the second one in 1969 to become the 10th holder of the title. Spassky lost his only defence against Bobby Fischer in a match in Reykjavik in 1972.
This match gave him worldwide fame in the midst of a media frenzy at the height of the Cold War. Spassky was one of the leading players in the world from 1956 until the early 1980s. In 1992 he played Bobby Fischer in a rematch in Yugoslavia which briefly made them both famous again. In September 2010 he had a serious stroke, most of this obituary was written at that time, it does seem that he eventually made a near full recovery. Spassky had problems with his personal circumstances around this time which concluded with him moving from France, where he had lived for many years, back to Russia where he remained for the rest of his life.
Spassky was regarded as one of the best players ever, a universal player who was especially good at attacking play. His loss to Karpov and a gradual fall in motivation affected his standing in all time lists but at his best his games were really fantastic and place him right up there with the very greatest of players.
Boris Spassky in action against Bobby Fischer in the 1972 World Championship
Boris Spassky was the last of a group of young chess players that made chess exciting in the 1960s. The games of Bobby Fischer, Mikhail Tal, Bent Larsen and Boris Spassky caused a huge increase in the interest in the game and this culminated in the match between Fischer and Spassky for the World Chess Championship in Reykjavik 1972. The names of Spassky and Fischer became synonymous with chess as the entire world watched a clash between East and West at the height of the Cold War. Spassky himself was not entirely suited to this roll as he was no supporter of the communist system and he left the Soviet Union to live France in 1976, really as soon as he could arrange it. The match itself was like a scripted drama and defending champion Spassky effectively lost his title in the anarchy of the first half of the match before getting down to play some very interesting chess in the second half when it was already too late. He did end up being the second most famous player on the planet. Spassky's essential sympathy towards Fischer as a chess player probably allowed the match to take place at all.
Spassky was according to ChessMetrics the strongest player in the World in 1966. In terms of rating Spassky was behind Bobby Fischer for most of the late 1960s. Although Spassky lost much of his ambition in the 1980s he was still rated as high as 5 in the World in the July 1986 FIDE rating list.
Boris Spassky aged 11.
Boris Spassky was born in Leningrad on January 30th 1937. He learned chess in Urals during the war. Spassky was one of the most naturally gifted players in the history of the game and at his best he was rightly famed for his "Universal" style of play, comfortable in all phases and with all styles of play in chess. Spassky was already known as a very strong chess player at the age of 10 when he defeated Mikhail Botvinnik in a simultaneous exhibition. His career was shaped by three trainers all of whom contributed to his understanding of the game. Firstly he was trained by Vladimir Zak, he worked up to five hours a day on his skills and made rapid progress. His second trainer (from 1951) was Alexander Tolush a very strong personality and violent attacking player who encouraged this side to Spassky's play. Finally in his years of success he was looked after by Igor Bondarevsky who was a more positional player and allowed him to become a more disciplined and well rounded player.
Spassky exploded onto the World scene at 16 with a shared 4th place in Bucharest in 1953 for which he was awarded the International Master title. He tied 3rd-6th in his first Soviet Championships in 1955. This qualified him to play in World Championship Interzonal. He won the World Junior Chess Championships in Antwerp with 14/16 before finishing tied 7th at the Goteborg Interzonal to become the youngest Candidate to that time. He was awarded the Grandmaster Title.
| Interzonal Tournament Aug-Sept 1955 Goteborg SWE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Total | T/B |
| 1 | Bronstein,D | xx | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15.0 | |
| 2 | Keres,P | 0 | xx | 1 | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | = | = | 1 | 13.5 | |
| 3 | Panno,O | 0 | 0 | xx | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 13.0 | |
| 4 | Petrosian,T | = | = | = | xx | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.5 | |
| 5 | Geller,E | 0 | = | 1 | = | xx | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 12.0 | 111.75 |
| 6 | Szabo,L | = | = | 0 | = | = | xx | = | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12.0 | 108.50 |
| 7 | Filip,M | = | = | = | = | = | = | xx | = | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 11.0 | 104.00 |
| 8 | Pilnik,H | = | = | = | = | 0 | = | = | xx | 0 | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 11.0 | 102.50 |
| 9 | Spassky,B | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | xx | 1 | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | = | 11.0 | 102.50 |
| 10 | Ilivitsky,G | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | 0 | xx | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 10.5 | 100.50 |
| 11 | Pachman,L | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | xx | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 10.5 | 99.25 |
| 12 | Najdorf,M | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | xx | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 0 | 9.5 | 94.00 |
| 13 | Guimard,C | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | xx | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | = | 0 | = | 1 | 9.5 | 89.50 |
| 14 | Rabar,B | = | = | = | = | 1 | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | xx | = | = | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9.0 | 93.50 |
| 15 | Fuderer,A | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | xx | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | = | 9.0 | 81.25 |
| 16 | Unzicker,W | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | 0 | xx | = | = | = | 1 | 1 | 8.5 | |
| 17 | Stahlberg,G | 0 | 1 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | = | xx | 1 | = | = | 1 | 8.0 | 74.00 |
| 18 | Bisguier,A | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | = | 1 | = | = | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | xx | = | 1 | 1 | 8.0 | 70.50 |
| 19 | Medina Garcia,A | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 1 | 1 | 0 | = | = | = | xx | 0 | 0 | 5.5 | 53.25 |
| 20 | Donner,J | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | 0 | = | 0 | 1 | xx | = | 5.5 | 49.25 |
| 21 | Sliwa,B | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | = | 1 | 0 | 1 | = | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | = | xx | 5.5 | 48.50 |
| Candidates Tournament Amsterdam (NED), 27 iii - 30 iv 1956 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |||
| 1 | Smyslov,Vassily | ** | ½½ | ½½ | 0½ | ½½ | ½1 | 11 | ½1 | 1½ | ½1 | 11.5/18 | ||
| 2 | Keres,Paul | ½½ | ** | ½½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½1 | ½½ | ½0 | 1½ | 1½ | 10.0/18 | ||
| 3 | Szabo,Laszlo | ½½ | ½½ | ** | 1½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½1 | 0½ | ½½ | 01 | 9.5/18 | 86.00 | |
| 4 | Spassky,Boris V | 1½ | ½½ | 0½ | ** | ½½ | ½1 | 0½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½1 | 9.5/18 | 84.00 | |
| 5 | Petrosian,Tigran V | ½½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½½ | ** | 0½ | 01 | 1½ | ½½ | 1½ | 9.5/18 | 82.25 | |
| 6 | Bronstein,David I | ½0 | ½0 | ½½ | ½0 | 1½ | ** | ½1 | 1½ | ½½ | ½1 | 9.5/18 | 81.00 | |
| 7 | Geller,Efim P | 00 | ½½ | ½0 | 1½ | 10 | ½0 | ** | 11 | ½1 | 1½ | 9.5/18 | 78.75 | |
| 8 | Filip,Miroslav | ½0 | ½1 | 1½ | ½½ | 0½ | 0½ | 00 | ** | 10 | ½1 | 8.0/18 | 69.50 | |
| 9 | Panno,Oscar | 0½ | 0½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½½ | ½0 | 01 | ** | 1½ | 8.0/18 | 69.00 | |
| 10 | Pilnik,Herman | ½0 | 0½ | 10 | ½0 | 0½ | ½0 | 0½ | ½0 | 0½ | ** | 5.0/18 | ||
Mikhail Tal dominated Boris Spassky in their early career but later Spassky got very much the better of it.
His career also had more ups and downs than most and perhaps no player's career has been more affected by the results of a single games than his. Particularly damaging was the loss to Mikhail Tal in the Soviet Championships in Riga 1958 where at one stage he had a draw just by asking which would have put him in a playoff for the Interzonal place. Three years later he lost a very similar game to Lev Polugaevsky in Round 10 of the Soviet Championships, again a qualifier for the World Title. He collapsed from leading with 7/9 to finishing out of the qualification places.
For a player acknowledged as one of the World's very best he was now as far away from becoming World Champion as ever. His road back started with his change of trainer to Bondarevsky and a more professional attitude. He won his first Soviet title in Baku in 1961. He then started the trail for the world title in 1966. In 1963 he played the Semi-Finals of the 31st Soviet Championships qualifying for the final, he then tied for first place losing the title to Stein after a playoff. In Moscow 1964 he won the incredibly strong Zonal tournament with 7 Soviet players for 3 places in the Interzonal with 7/12. Then in the tough Amsterdam Interzonal he blasted into contention with 8 wins in a row. A loss to Larsen in Round 22 meant he had to beat Oscar Carillo Quinones to be certain to qualify for the Candidates which he managed. He was finally on his way.
| Amsterdam Interzonal (NED), v-vi 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | Total | T/B | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Smyslov,V | 17.0 | 179.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Larsen,B | 17.0 | 178.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Spassky,B | 17.0 | 172.25 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Tal,M | 17.0 | 171.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Stein,L | 16.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Bronstein,D | 16.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Ivkov,B | 15.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Reshevsky,S | 14.5 | 144.25 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Portisch,L | 14.5 | 138.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Gligoric,S | 14.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Darga,K | 13.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Lengyel,L | 13.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Pachman,L | 12.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Evans,LM | 10.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Tringov,G | 9.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Benko,P | 9.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Rossetto,H | 8.0 | 82.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Foguelman,A | 8.0 | 76.50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Bilek,I | 8.0 | 72.75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Quinones,O | 7.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Porath,Y | 5.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Perez,F | 5.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Berger,B | 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Vranesic,Z | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Spassky's first Candidates Match series saw him beat veteran Paul Keres 6-4 (he lost the first game but then wins in games 3-5 set up victory), then he comfortably beat Efim Geller 5.5-2.5 before a very tough match against a healthy Mikhail Tal who he first tamed and then finished with three consecutive victories. It had taken 98 games from the start of the Soviet Semi-Finals of 1963 but he was to fight for the World Title.
| Candidates Quarter-Finals Riga April 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | TOTAL | |||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 6.0/10 | |||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Paul Keres | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 4.0/10 | |||||||||||
| Candidates Semi-Finals Riga May-June 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | TOTAL | |||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5.5/8 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Efim Petrovich Geller | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 2.5/8 | |||||||||||||
| Candidates Final Tbilisi Nov 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | TOTAL | ||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0/11 | ||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Mikhail Nekhemievich Tal | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.0/11 | ||||||||||
Huge crowds followed his first match against Tigran Petrosian in 1966.
Boris Spassky lost is first World Championship tilt at the title in a very tight match against Tigran Petrosian 12.5-11.5. Spassky later said he wasn't quite ready to be World Champion, whilst it's certainly possible to imagine this match going the other way Petrosian might well have won by a bigger margin on the balance of chances.
| World Chess Championships Moscow April-May 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||||||||
| 01 | GM | Tigran Petrosian | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ||||||||
| 02 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ||||||||
| Pl | Ti | Name | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | TOTAL | |||||||||||
| 01 | GM | Tigran Petrosian | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 12.5 | 24 | ||||||||||
| 02 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 11.5 | 24 | ||||||||||
Spassky went straight from his disappointment in losing to Petrosian to play in the United States for the first time in his career. Spassky dominated the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup whilst World Champion Tigran Petrosian and local favourite Bobby Fischer struggled. Actually Fischer's problems were in the first half of the tournament where he was on the perpetual hunt for a quiet hotel room and lost three games, against Spassky, Larsen and his only ever loss against Miguel Najdorf. The story goes this was where Spassky and Fischer became friendly because Spassky took him aside, told him to settle down and come and play some blitz chess in the bar between rounds and stop worrying about such irrelevancies. Fischer roared back into contention and eventually finished only a half point behind Spassky in clear 2nd place.
Boris Spassky beat Bobby Fischer at the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup Santa Monica 1966.
| 2nd Piatigorsky Cup Santa Monica (USA), 17 vii - 15 viii 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | NAT | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total | |||||||||||
| 1 | Spassky | (Soviet Union) | ## | 1 ½ | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | ½ 1 | 11½ | |||||||||||
| 2 | Fischer | (United States) | 0 ½ | ## | 0 1 | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | 0 1 | 1 1 | ½ 1 | 11 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Larsen | (Denmark) | ½ 0 | 1 0 | ## | 1 ½ | ½ 0 | 1 1 | ½ 1 | 1 ½ | 0 1 | ½ 0 | 10 | |||||||||||
| 4 | Portisch | (Hungary) | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | 0 ½ | ## | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | ½ 1 | 9½ | |||||||||||
| 5 | Unzicker | (West Germany) | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | ## | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | ½ ½ | 9½ | |||||||||||
| 6 | Petrosian | (Soviet Union) | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 0 0 | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | ## | ½ ½ | 1 1 | ½ ½ | ½ 1 | 9 | |||||||||||
| 7 | Reshevsky | (United States) | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | ## | ½ 1 | ½ ½ | 1 ½ | 9 | |||||||||||
| 8 | Najdorf | (Argentina) | ½ ½ | 1 0 | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 0 0 | ½ 0 | ## | 1 ½ | ½ 1 | 8 | |||||||||||
| 9 | Ivkov | (Yugoslavia) | 0 ½ | 0 0 | 1 0 | ½ 0 | 0 ½ | ½ ½ | ½ ½ | 0 ½ | ## | ½ 1 | 6½ | |||||||||||
| 10 | Donner | (Netherlands) | ½ 0 | ½ 0 | ½ 1 | ½ 0 | ½ ½ | ½ 0 | 0 ½ | ½ 0 | ½ 0 | ## | 6 | |||||||||||
As losing finalist Spassky was seeded straight through to the Candidates series of 1968. He made very light work of the opposition the second time round beating the opposition of Geller, Larsen and Korchnoi each by a margin of three points for the loss of only two games.
| Candidates Quarter-Finals Sukhumi May 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | TOTAL | |||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5.5/8 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Efim Petrovich Geller | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 2.5/8 | |||||||||||||
| Candidates Semi-Finals Malmo July 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | TOTAL | |||||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5.5/8 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Bent Larsen | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 2.5/8 | |||||||||||||
| Candidates Finals Kiev September 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | TOTAL | |||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 6.5/10 | |||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 3.5/10 | |||||||||||
Tigran Petrosian losing his title to Boris Spassky in 1969.
If Spassky wasn't ready the first time round he certainly was the second. His opening choices continually surprised Petrosian and even though a rather topsy turvy first half finished level games 17-21 were the core of the match with three wins to Spassky, one for Petrosian and two draws settling the fate of the title. Thus at the age of 32 Boris Spassky became the 10th World Chess Champion.
| World Chess Championships Moscow April-May 1969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | |||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | |||||||||
| 2 | GM | Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | |||||||||
| Pl | Ti | Name | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | TOTAL | |||||||||||
| 1 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 12.5 | 23 | ||||||||||
| 2 | GM | Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 10.5 | 23 | ||||||||||
Boris Spassky in 1970.
After becoming World Champion Boris Spassky did very well in 1970. He won the Category 15 Leiden tournament ahead of Donner, Botvinnik in his final tournament and Larsen in a tournament with only 5 of the 24 games finishing decisively. He drew 1.5-1.5 with Bent Larsen in the USSR vs The Rest of The World Match before not playing the final game. His win against Bent Larsen's 1.b3 was truly crushing. He finished 1st= with Lev Polugaevsky on 11.5/15 at the IBM tournament in Amsterdam. He took the Gold Medal on Board 1 (and obviously the Team Gold too) for the USSR in Siegen Olympiad. His most famous clash was with Bobby Fischer who he beat in the 6th round of the final phase.
Boris Spassky beat Bobby Fischer at the Siegen Olympiad 1970.
Fischer's career is so well documented that Spassky can sometimes seem like a footnote. There is little doubt that Fischer respected him. Of the three losses he published in "My 60 Memorable Games" was his first meeting with Spassky in a King's Gambit in the Mar del Plata tournament of 1960. Because of Spassky's failures to qualify for the World Championship cycles at the end of the 50s and start of the 60s followed by Fischer's none-participation in Spassky's winning Candidates series they only played 5 times before their match. Their second and third meetings were in Santa Monica where Spassky won with white and drew with black. Later that year they drew during the Havana Olympiad. Then there was Siegen. Going into their World Title Match he had a +3 =2 -0 record and many thought he was favourite going into his match against Fischer.
Boris Spassky in action against Bobby Fischer in the 1972 World Championship
The match in 1972 got caught up in the cold war and was headline news from the moment Fischer qualified for it. It would take too long to talk about all the uncertainties surrounding the match. For a long time it seemed like Fischer wouldn't play, he then lost game 1 and defaulted game 2, then in a table tennis room out of sight of the cameras Fischer blew Spassky away with black in a Benoni Defence and then won games 5, 6, 8 and 10 to effectively settle the match. Spassky won game 11, Fischer games 13 and finally 21 and the match was over. It's hard to know what Spassky thought of losing the title, he certainly tried to get it back, but he also gave the impression he found it a burden.
Boris Spassky in action against Bobby Fischer in the 1972 World Championship
| World Chess Championships Reykjavík July-September 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | FIDE | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |||||||||
| 1 | GM | 2785 | GM Robert James Fischer | 0 | 0(f) | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | |||||||||
| 2 | GM | 2660 | GM Boris Vasilievich Spassky | 1 | 1(f) | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | |||||||||
| Pl | Ti | FIDE | Name | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | TOTAL | |||||||||||
| 1 | GM | 2785 | GM Robert James Fischer | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 12.5 | 21 | ||||||||||
| 2 | GM | 2660 | GM Boris Vasilievich Spassky | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 8.5 | 21 | ||||||||||
Spassky beat Robert Byrne in the quarterfinals of the 1974 candidates but was well beaten by Anatoly Karpov in the semi-finals. Karpov was the next generation and clearly stronger than Spassky from then on.
| Candidates Quarter-Finals San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jan 1974. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Spassky Boris | = | = | 1 | 1 | = | 1 | 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Byrne Robert | = | = | 0 | 0 | = | 0 | 1.5 | ||||||||||||||||
| Candidates Semi-Finals Leningrad, April-May 1974. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Total | |||||||||||
| 1 | Karpov Anatoly | 0 | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 7.0 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Spassky Boris | 1 | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | = | 0 | = | 0 | 4.0 | |||||||||||
Boris Spassky failed in the 1976 Manilla Interzonal finishing in a tie for 10th place out of 20. However when Bobby Fischer, naturally, didn't take up the place accorded to him in the Candidates, Spassky was his replacement and he got all the way to the final against Viktor Korchnoi.
| Candidates Quarter-Finals Reykjavik Feb-Mar, 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | TOTAL | |||||
| 01 | GM | Boris Spassky | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6.5/16 | |||||
| 02 | GM | Vlastimil Hort | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 5.5/16 | |||||
| Candidates Semi-Finals Geneva Jul-Aug, 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | TOTAL | ||||||
| 01 | GM | Boris Spassky | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 8.5/15 | ||||||
| 02 | GM | Lajos Portisch | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 6.5/15 | ||||||
The Spassky - Korchnoi match of 1977 was one of the most bizarre in history. Spassky fell 7.5-2.5 behind, then won 4 games in a row before Korchnoi took things in hand. The background to this match was the defection of Korchnoi and the Soviet's attitude of trying to ignore him and even ban him. Spassky himself was about to move to France. After falling behind Spassky spent most of his time in a rest room away from the board, this ramped up the tension in the match, even if this later became fairly standard behaviour, at the time it was really seen as an insult to his opponent. It took a very long time before Spassky and Korchnoi forgave each other.
| Candidates Finals Belgrade Nov-Dec, 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| 01 | GM | Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 02 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ||||||||||||
| Pl | Ti | Name | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | TOTAL | |||||||||||||
| 01 | GM | Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 10.5 | 18 | ||||||||||||
| 02 | GM | Boris Vasilievich Spassky | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 7.5 | 18 | ||||||||||||
Lajos Portisch won the Candidates match against Spassky on a tie-break of more wins with black after they drew 7-7. This seems very odd to me and must have been a regulation just for this one cycle.
| Candidates Quarter-Finals Mexico City 1980 Portisch won with more wins with black | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | TOTAL | ||||||||
| 01 | Boris Spassky | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7.0/14 | ||||||||
| 02 | Lajos Portisch | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7.0/14 | ||||||||
Spassky was half a point short of Candidates qualification in 1982.
| Interzonal Tournament 1982 Toluca | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | FIDE | Name | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | TOTAL | |||||||
| 01 | 2625 | Lajos Portisch | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 8.5/13 | ||||||||
| 02 | 2535 | Eugenio Torre | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 8.5/13 | ||||||||
| 03 | 2610 | Boris Spassky | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 8.0/13 | ||||||||
| 04 | 2505 | Igor Ivanov | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 7.5/13 | ||||||||
| 05 | 2555 | Artur Yusupov | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 7.5/13 | ||||||||
| 06 | 2610 | Lev Polugaevsky | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.5/13 | ||||||||
| 07 | 2595 | Yasser Seirawan | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.5/13 | ||||||||
| 08 | 2565 | John Nunn | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7.0/13 | ||||||||
| 09 | 2555 | Yuri Balashov | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6.5/13 | ||||||||
| 10 | 2510 | Andras Adorjan | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6.5/13 | ||||||||
| 11 | 2495 | Krunoslav Hulak | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5.5/13 | ||||||||
| 12 | 2415 | Jorge Rubinetti | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 4.0/13 | ||||||||
| 13 | 2480 | Amador Rodríguez | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 4.0/13 | ||||||||
| 14 | 2440 | Bachar Kouatly | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.5/13 | ||||||||
| Candidates Tournament 1985 Montpellier FRA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Rating | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | TOTAL | |||||
| 1 | 2600 | Artur Yusupov | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 9.0 | ||||||
| 2 | 2625 | Rafael Vaganian | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 9.0 | ||||||
| 3 | 2555 | Andrei Sokolov | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 9.0 | ||||||
| 4 | 2640 | Jan Timman | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 8.5 | ||||||
| 5 | 2565 | Mikhail Tal | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 8.5 | ||||||
| 6 | 2590 | Boris Spassky | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 8.0 | ||||||
| 7 | 2640 | Alex. Beliavsky | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 8.0 | ||||||
| 8 | 2595 | Vasily Smyslov | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 7.5 | ||||||
| 9 | 2560 | Alexander Chernin | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7.5 | ||||||
| 0 | 2570 | Yasser Seirawan | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7.0 | ||||||
| 1 | 2575 | Nigel Short | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 7.0 | ||||||
| 2 | 2625 | Lajos Portisch | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 7.0 | ||||||
| 3 | 2625 | Viktor Korchnoi | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6.5 | ||||||
| 4 | 2605 | Zoltan Ribli | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6.5 | ||||||
| 5 | 2545 | Jesus Nogueiras | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6.0 | ||||||
| 6 | 2550 | Kevin Spraggett | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 5.0 | ||||||
Spassky's career really started to trail away. He received a huge boost when Bobby Fischer returned to play one final match against his old rival in 1992, twenty years after the first, in what was a major pay day for the players. It was a reasonably interesting match even if it made it clear they were a long way from the top by then, Fischer was the clear winner. Spassky narrowly lost a match against Judit Polgar and then only played a few events after that.
| Sveti Stefan and Belgrade Sept-Nov 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Ti | Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | |||||
| 1 | GM | Bobby Fischer | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | |||||
| 2 | GM | Boris Spassky | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Pl | Ti | Name | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | Pts | Gms | |||||||
| 1 | GM | Bobby Fischer | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 17.5 | 30 | |||||||
| 2 | GM | Boris Spassky | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 12.5 | 30 | |||||||
Boris Spassky analysing with Viktor Korchnoi in 2009.
Spassky had a stroke in September 2010, there were news stories about him being exploited by people close to him. At that time it was suddenly announced he was living in Moscow, later he said this was made possible by someone called Valentina Kuznetsova who he called "my guardian angel." Spassky's family in France didn't have the same opinion. Spassky then seems to have led a quiet life until passing away in February 2025 with just a small number of public appearances and interviews in the intervening years.
There is an excellent Obituary by Peter Doggers on Chess.com
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