Boris Spassky 1937 - 2025

@greenpawn34

Excellent blog. Thanks gp.

Thanks moonbus,

I had settled down with my SakI CD. (I cannot listen to songs with lyrics whilst typing)
and intended to do a wonderfully researched pieces of work.

However I made the mistake of hitting the net to confirm something and I caught
Leonard Barden's piece and inadequacy set in. I cannot top that.
So did a normal blog with a Boris Spassky theme. I really do like his games
and attitude. I'll sneak in more Spassky puzzles and games in the future.
(I have a load of stuff on hand but have been gazumped by Barden -I hate him 😉 )

Leonard's piece is at:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/28/boris-spassky-obituary
You will not need to read another.

If you have time do read this in depth 2016 interview with Spassky.

https://www.chess.com/blog/Spektrowski/boris-spassky-2016-interview

@greenpawn34

I too like Spassky’s games. It was no mean feat to defeat Petrosian, an extraordinarily difficult player to get the better of.

@greenpawn34

I can't remember where I read it, but it was said that Spassky played chess for fun, and you only saw his full power when he got motivated.

Before the 1966 World Championship, Kortchnoi had offended Spassky, so Spassky went on a crusade, defeated Kortchnoi in the candidates final and then had fun in the World Championship.
I don't think there have been as many exchange sacs in any tournament as there were in the 1966 World Championship.

And afterwards, Petrosian was very disparaging of Spassky in an interview. Oh no! Spassky set off on a new crusade and took away Petrosian's title in 1969.

In 1972 Fischer deployed a devious tactic. He was very polite and respectful to Spassky! And thus Spassky was defeated.


Everyone who knew Spassky spoke of him fondly and of his charisma. He did have a bit of a falling out with Kortchnoi, but in an exhibition event not long before Kortchnoi's passing, the 2 appeared to have become good friends.

@Wyn-Davies

Thanks, Wyn. That was very informative.

Jay