IMO Spassky and Capablanca were the two greatest natural chess talents in the 20th century. Players like Alekhine, Fischer, and Kasparov achieved what they did by devoting practically every waking hour and minute of their lives to chess. Spassky and Capablanca reached the top without opening a chess book and spending very little time at a chess board other than when they were actually competing. Spassky's disdain for studying chess or preparing for tournaments and matches is legendary. Karpov once said that he was stunned how Spassky could be so strong and never prepare or study.

I've often thought that point so poignant. But I still imagine Fischer as the guy who kicked commie's can. I just can't help it.

Well, in 1999 Shirov played a six game match in Prague against Judit Polgar. Before the match Judit had positive score against Alexei in games with classical time control and was by no means considered to be underdog in the match. But Shirov crushed her with score 5,5-0,5 with one short draw with black pieces in the fourth game which secured him the prize of 65,000$ for winner. A few months before that he smashed 5-1 then Czech no 1 Zbynek Hracek (Shirov lost a game with black pieces in already decided match after quite careless play and incorrect sac of exchange) and also he beat quite convincingly Kramnik in 1998. Still nobody would argue that Shirov was the best player then...

In a way, Fischer's match against Taimanov is more impressive than the one with Larsen. Larsen was a stronger player, but he often had this devil-may-care attitude in which he seemed not to understand that a draw was better than a loss. He could have forced a draw by repetition against Fischer in Game 6, but eschewed it to keep trying for a win. To me that win seems meaningless; breaking up the shutout was more important. But to Larsen, the chance of a win was more important than whether he got shut out or not.

Are modern players looking for ratings or looking to WIN?

In fact, many players are playing to the bitter end nowadays then, say, the 60's. Perhaps it's Sofia Rules and Topalov's influence.

Hello Everyone,
During the Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk everyone was disturbed by the news that the tenth World Champion Boris Spassky had suffered a stroke. We found this happy news at www.chess-news.ru. It is nice to know that he is doing well now in Paris at a rehabilitation hospital in Saint-Jean Rishat system. He will be staying there until mid-January. Spassky told journalists that healing after a stroke takes time "so no worries about my health. After arriving in Paris, I passed all the medical test and now I continue a rehabilitation program under the supervision of French physicians, to whom I am very grateful. In addition, I would like to thank the doctors from the Moscow 13th Municipal Hospital and the Burdenko Institute, primarily Natalia V. Kurdyumov who gave me timely and qualified medical assistance to save my life." Boris Spassky is taking daily therapy sessions and also spends time listening to his favourite music of recordings of Peter Leshchenko, Alexander Vertinsky, Enrico Caruso - the great music of the 1930s and 40.

- Boris Spassky (on Bent Larsen)

If they allow the championship match to happen earlier, say 1968, I believe Fischer still can conquer Spassky.

I hope Boris gets well soon.

(Source: Chess Life & Review April 1970)

Maybe, maybe not. But the only person who didn't allow a match to happen before 1972 was Bobby Fischer.

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