Former world chess champion Boris Spassky has died at the age of 89 in Moscow, the Russian Chess Federation confirmed on Monday. Andrey Filatov, the federation’s president, described his passing as a major loss for the sport and the country.
“A great personality has left us. Generations of chess players have studied his games and continue to learn from his work. This is a great loss for the nation. My condolences to his family and friends. Eternal memory,” Filatov said in a statement.
Spassky secured the world champion title in 1969, defeating Tigran Petrosian in Moscow with a score of 12.5 to 10.5. However, he was unable to defend his crown three years later in what became one of the most famous matches in chess history. In 1972, he lost to American challenger Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, with a final score of 8.5 to 12.5, marking a pivotal moment in Cold War-era sports rivalry.
His rise to the top began in 1966 when he first earned the right to compete for the world championship. That year, he faced Petrosian but fell short in a close contest (11.5 to 12.5). Spassky was also a two-time Soviet champion, winning national titles in 1961 and 1973. Representing the USSR in international play, he contributed to six gold medal victories at the Chess Olympiads and earned one silver medal.
Following his historic loss to Fischer, Spassky moved to France in 1972, where he later represented his adopted country in three Chess Olympiads. In the 2000s, he dedicated himself to promoting the game in Russia, traveling extensively, launching chess schools, and mentoring young players. He returned to Russia in 2012 and was granted Russian citizenship the following year.
