Boris Spassky
The champion on the losing side of the most famous match in chess history.
Photo: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo (Dutch National Archives) · CC0 1.0 (Public Domain)
Biography
Spassky beat Petrosian for the title in 1969, then lost it in 1972 to Bobby Fischer in the legendary Reykjavík "Match of the Century," played under intense Cold War-era global attention.
He later emigrated to France and remained on notably good terms with Fischer for years afterward, despite the historic loss.
Playing Style
Versatile and "universal" — equally comfortable attacking or playing quiet positional chess, adapting his style to whatever the position demanded rather than forcing a single approach.
Notable Games
Fischer vs. Spassky, Game 6
Fischer's famous Queen's Gambit win reportedly drew applause from the crowd — and from Spassky himself.
Fun Facts
- The 1972 match was covered worldwide as a Cold War proxy battle between the US and USSR.
- He remained friendly with Fischer for years after their historic match.