Boris Spassky

Boris Spassky was born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Soviet Union. He is globally recognized as one of the greatest chess players in history. Spassky's professional career took off when he won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1955. He later became the tenth World Chess Champion in 1969.

Spassky is known for his universal style, competitive spirit, and psychological insight. He has received numerous accolades, including the Chess Oscar, and holds several records, such as being the youngest grandmaster at his time.

Off the board, Spassky is also known for his magnanimous personality and contributions to promoting chess worldwide.

Early Career

• Spassky was born and raised in Leningrad and showed a knack for chess at an early age. He won his first Soviet Junior Championship at the age of 15.

World Junior Champion

• In 1955, Spassky won the World Junior Chess Championship, announcing his arrival on the global stage.

Grandmaster and World Championship Candidate

• In 1956, Spassky became a chess grandmaster at the age of 18, the youngest ever at the time. He also qualified for the Candidates Tournament, the final stage in the World Championship selection process.

World Chess Champion

• Spassky finally became the World Chess Champion in 1969 after defeating Tigran Petrosian.

Later Career

• After losing his title to Bobby Fischer in 1972, Spassky continued to participate in top-level tournaments and remained one of the world's leading players into the early 1980s.

Soviet Union National Team

• Spassky represented the Soviet Union in numerous international competitions, including the Chess Olympiads, where he helped the team win multiple gold medals.

• Style: Spassky was known for his universal style, capable of transitioning between different types of positions and strategies.
• Skills: Renowned for his deep understanding of the game, competitive spirit, and psychological insight.

• Family: Spassky has been married three times and has two sons.
• Later Life: After the end of his professional chess career, Spassky moved to France, where he currently resides.

• Boris Spassky is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for his passion for the game, sportsmanship, and contributions to promoting chess globally. His games continue to be studied by aspiring chess players worldwide.

World Chess Champion:

• 1969-1972

Chess Oscar:

• 1970

Soviet Chess Champion:

• 1961, 1973

World Junior Chess Champion:

• 1955

Books

• Gligoric, S. (1972) I Play Against Pieces. New York: Simon and Schuster.
• Kasparov, G. (2003) My Great Predecessors, Part III. London: Everyman Chess.

Websites

• World Chess Federation: Information about Boris Spassky’s career and accomplishments. Available at: https://www.fide.com
• Chess.com: Comprehensive biography and game records of Boris Spassky. Available at: https://www.chess.com

Articles

• The Guardian: Boris Spassky: A king in exile. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/nov/25/boris-spassky-chess-champion-interview
• ChessBase: Boris Spassky turns eighty. Available at: https://en.chessbase.com/post/boris-spassky-turns-eighty

Interviews and Documentaries

• Bobby Fischer Against the World (2011): Directed by Liz Garbus. This documentary covers the 1972 World Chess Championship, including interviews with Boris Spassky.
• Various interviews with Boris Spassky are available on YouTube and chess-related websites.