On January 30, 1937, Boris Spassky was born in St. Petersburg, Russia (then Leningrad, Soviet Union). In 1969, he won as the tenth official world chess champion. He was (and still is) well-known in the chess community for his positional versatility and all-around playing style. It would be incorrect to recall him simply for his defeat to American Bobby Fischer in their 1972 title match, which pushed him into a global following.
Teenage Candidate
Spassky’s chess promise showed from a quite young age, and by 1955 he was already a top player in the world, winning the World Junior Championship and qualifying for the 1957 World Championship cycle. With a +7 -5 =8 score in the 1955 Interzonal, he earned a spot in the Candidates tournament. Boris Spassky finished with a respectable +3 -2 =13 in the 10-player double round-robin, but Vassily Smyslov cleared the field with six wins and just one loss.
Unfortunately, Spassky would not qualify for the Candidates again (or even an Interzonal) until the 1966 cycle. Arguably his main accomplishment in the meantime: winning the King’s Gambit, twice, in one year. He finished in the middle of the pack in the 1960 Soviet Championship but defeated David Bronstein with a sacrificial onslaught that would later be used in the James Bond film From Russia with Love.
Spassky faced a young American player for the first time in their careers two months later at Mar del Plata, Argentina, but it would not be the last. Naturally, Bobby Fischer was his name. Spassky simply outplayed Fischer in a game that a year later would lead Fischer to make the King’s Gambit a loss for White (after his new move, 3…d6). They shared the championship at Mar del Plata despite the close outcome between them, with Fischer finishing +13 -1 =1 and Spassky finishing +12 =3.
Candidate Once More
Spassky ultimately made it back to the Interzonal tournament in 1964. Out of 23 players, he was one of four who scored 17 (+13 -2 = 8), tying for first place and earning a spot in the 1965 Candidates. There, he won the finals against former champion Mikhail Tal after defeating Paul Keres 6-4 and Efim Geller 5½-2½.
Tal got off to a quick start by winning the second game, but Spassky quickly responded by winning the third. After five draws, Spassky began a three-match winning streak that guaranteed him a position in the title match against Tigran Petrosian. surprisingly, Black won in four of the five critical games—including the game-winning match against Spassky in game 11.
After losing two games to zero against Petrosian after ten games, Spassky rallied to win games thirteen and nineteen to even the score with five games remaining. However, the very next game went against him, and Petrosian was able to repeat as champion after suffering a further defeat in game 22.
Nevertheless, Spassky was given a bid to enter the 1968 Candidates. There, he won over Geller once more before defeating Bent Larsen of Denmark. After defeating Tal in the previous round, Viktor Korchnoi faced Spassky in the championship match.
After two games, Spassky claimed the lead and went on to win the fourth. Korchnoi seemed like he might tie the match with a game-six victory, but Spassky won the next two games to end that threat. Spassky received his rematch against Petrosian after two more draws.
Champion
Despite losing the first game to Petrosian right away, He showed no signs of giving up, as he went on to tie the match in the fourth, take the lead in the fifth, and increase his lead in the eighth game. Naturally, Petrosian was also an excellent competitor, and following game 11, the score was once more tied.
The fact that the next five games were drawn, including two brief meetings in Spassky’s two as White, suggests that perhaps six of the first 11 critical games were too much for either of them. However, Spassky won his next game as White, which was the match’s seventeenth. Afterward, in game 19, he defeated Petrosian in just 24 moves, regaining the lead by two points.
However, the game went back and forth, with Petrosian declaring a win in game 20. But Spassky would not allow him to tie the game again, winning game 21 to reopen his two-point advantage. With two draws left to play in the final three games, Spassky could now declare himself the world champion. In the following two games, he beat them, making history as the tenth recognized world chess champion.
In 1970, during his championship reign, Spassky played the most special game of his career—sacrificing a rook to win as Black against Larsen and the Danish star in just 17 moves—in response to the latter’s famous opening move (1.b3).
Naturally, Spassky faced the disadvantage of having to defend his title against Fischer in 1972, when the latter was at the height of his abilities. Spassky would go on to win three games, the first two of which he won by giving up, but he was finally far from a successful defense.
Championship Career
Another championship cycle later, in 1975, faced Spassky against a younger player close to the top of his game. Spassky faced Anatoly Karpov in the semifinal after overcoming Robert Byrne in the Candidates quarterfinals. While Spassky won in the opening game, Karpov took the lead after winning the third and sixth games. Karpov also won games nine and eleven, ending Spassky’s opportunity to compete in a world championship match for the fourth time in a row.
In the 1978 cycle, Spassky made it to the Candidates final once more but lost to Korchnoi this time. He was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the following Candidates match, and that was the last time he advanced that far.
Bobby Fischer and Spassky’s 1992 rematch was the last significant chess meet. Naturally, there was a lot of media coverage of the match, but since Fischer hadn’t played competitively in 20 years and Spassky was past his prime, nobody believed that the match would be a championship match. Spassky won five games, but after 30 games Fischer crossed the 10-win mark to win the match.
Spassky played a match with Korchnoi as late as 2009, and he kept up his usual practice until around 2002. (In the eight-game match that was tied, each player won twice.) After getting French citizenship in 1978, Spassky went back to Russia in 2012 and is still there as of right now.
History
Spassky is one of the most well-known chess players outside of the chess community, particularly in the United States, because of his match against Fischer in 1972.
Within the chess community, Boris Spassky is regarded as a “universal” player who can play at any point in the game and is equally skilled in attack and defense. As you can see from the games above, he won multiple brilliances.
Spassky should be remembered for his skill on the chessboard, not for the politics of the 1972 World Championship match.
Most Memorable Games
Boris Spassky, the renowned Russian chess grandmaster, has left an indelible mark on the world of chess with his brilliant play. Let’s delve into some of his most memorable games:
Boris Spassky vs. Bent Larsen (2020): In this Nimzo-Indian Defense game, Spassky showcased his strategic prowess, resulting in a hard-fought draw1.
Boris Spassky vs. Viktor Korchnoi (2009): A Four Knights Game with a Double Spanish, Symmetrical Variation, where Spassky emerged victorious after 35 moves1.
Boris Spassky vs. Anatoly Karpov (2006): Playing the Caro-Kann Defense, Karpov Variation, Spassky secured a win in a 41-move battle1.
Boris Spassky vs. Lajos Portisch (2007): The Berlin Defense, l’Hermet, Berlin Wall Defense led to a 66-move victory for Spassky1.
Boris Spassky vs. Wolfgang Unzicker (2005): In a Four Knights Game with a Double Spanish, Nimzowitsch Variation, Spassky played to a draw after 31 moves1.
Conclusion
Boris Spassky’s history extends beyond his championship titles. His adaptability, strategic brilliance, and contributions to chess continue to inspire players worldwide.