Russian chess grandmaster Spassky dies aged 88
Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky has died at the age of 88, international chess federation general director Emil Sutovsky told Reuters on Thursday.
Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky has died at the age of 88, international chess federation (FIDE) general director Emil Sutovsky told Reuters on Thursday.
Spassky, who took French nationality in 1978, was the 10th World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1969-1972, when he lost it to American Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik in a contest later dubbed as the “Match of the Century”.
During that match in the midst of the Cold War, which he lost 12.5-8.5 despite winning the first two games, Spassky showed great sportsmanship, applauding Fischer after losing the sixth game.
Former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who beat Spassky in the semi-finals of the Candidates tournament in 1974, paid a warm tribute.
“My idols in chess were Jose Capablanca and Boris Spassky. And when I managed to beat Spassky, it was the greatest of victories and, in a sense, defeating something inside me by beating my teacher,” Karpov told state news agency RIA.
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