chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Boris Spassky
Spassky 
 

Number of games in database: 2,498
Years covered: 1948 to 2010
Last FIDE rating: 2548
Highest rating achieved in database: 2690
Overall record: +821 -216 =1370 (62.6%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 91 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (238) 
    B25 B20 B23 B45 B43
 Ruy Lopez (140) 
    C92 C77 C95 C78 C73
 French Defense (98) 
    C18 C11 C16 C19 C17
 Nimzo Indian (83) 
    E30 E46 E31 E41 E45
 Caro-Kann (78) 
    B18 B17 B12 B16 B14
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (66) 
    C92 C95 C93 C96 C98
With the Black pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (249) 
    C95 C64 C84 C92 C65
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (140) 
    C95 C84 C92 C93 C89
 Sicilian (130) 
    B83 B81 B31 B80 B84
 Orthodox Defense (95) 
    D58 D55 D59 D50 D56
 Queen's Gambit Declined (83) 
    D37 D35 D31 D30 D06
 Nimzo Indian (81) 
    E59 E21 E47 E53 E42
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Larsen vs Spassky, 1970 0-1
   Spassky vs Bronstein, 1960 1-0
   Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969 1-0
   Spassky vs Fischer, 1960 1-0
   Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969 1-0
   Spassky vs Geller, 1968 1-0
   Spassky vs Fischer, 1972 1-0
   Spassky vs Fischer, 1972 1-0
   Spassky vs S Avtonomov, 1949 1-0
   G Andruet vs Spassky, 1988 0-1

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: [what is this?]
   Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Match (1966)
   Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Match (1969)
   Spassky - Fischer World Championship Match (1972)

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   URS-ch sf Tallinn (1959)
   URS-ch sf Rostov-on-Don (1960)
   Mar del Plata (1960)
   USSR Championship 1961b (1961)
   Riga (1959)
   Trud Championship (1960)
   Belgrade (1964)
   San Juan (1969)
   USSR Championship (1959)
   Capablanca Memorial (1962)
   Brussels OHRA (1985)
   Amsterdam Interzonal (1964)
   Palma de Mallorca (1968)
   Bucharest (1953)
   USSR Championship (1962)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by enog
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by pacercina
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by Goatsrocknroll23
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by PassedPawnDuo
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by webbing1947
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by JoseTigranTalFischer
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by Incremental
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by Retarf
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by jakaiden
   Boris Spassky's 400 Selected Games by igiene
   Match Spassky! by docjan
   Match Spassky! by amadeus
   Smys mad Spas by fredthebear
   Road to the Championship - Boris Spassky by suenteus po 147

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Boris Spassky
Search Google for Boris Spassky
FIDE player card for Boris Spassky

BORIS SPASSKY
(born Jan-30-1937, died Feb-27-2025, 88 years old) Russia
PRONUNCIATION:
[what is this?]

Boris Vasilievich Spassky was born in Leningrad, USSR. As a child, in 1943, he escaped from the siege of the city by German forces.

Spassky first attracted international attention by finishing equal fourth at Bucharest (1953), celebrating his sixteenth birthday during the event. (Alexander Tolush won, his finest career achievement.) In 1955 Spassky won the World Junior Chess Championship.

Spassky tied for third at the USSR Championship (1955) with World Champion Botvinnik, future champion Tigran Petrosian, and Georgy Ilivitsky, half a point behind Smyslov and Geller, who tied for first. Spassky's performance at the Gothenburg Interzonal (1955) made him, up to that date, both the youngest grandmaster ever, and the youngest ever to qualify for the Candidates tournament. Smyslov won the Amsterdam Candidates (1956).

In 1956, Spassky tied with Mark Taimanov and Yuri Averbakh for first place at the USSR Championship (1956). He fell ill and finished last among the three players in the playoff. Many people expected Spassky to be world champion before his 25th birthday, but his fifth place in the Soviet Championship of 1958 was not enough to qualify him for the Portoroz Interzonal. This was due to a last-round loss to Mikhail Tal (Spassky vs Tal, 1958), which shook him deeply.

After winning one of the four semi-finals by finishing equal first with Rashid Nezhmetdinov Leningrad champion of 1959 [rusbase-1] and 1961 [rusbase-2] and finally Soviet Champion in 1961 [rusbase-3]. Winner of the Russian Zonal [rusbase-4]. Spassky shared the first place with Smyslov and Bent Larsen at Amsterdam 1964 http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/646.... In 1965 he eliminated Paul Keres, Efim Geller and Mikhail Tal. He faced Tigran Petrosian in the Petrosian - Spassky World Championship Match (1966), but narrowly lost.

As the losing player in the title match, Spassky automatically qualified for the next Candidates cycle, where he overcame Geller, Larsen and Korchnoi. He again faced Petrosian in the 1969 World Championship, and this time prevailed.

Spassky's style of play can be described best as lively and adaptable; this produced many brilliant victories. A position based on his victory in 1960 against David Bronstein was used in the James Bond movie, From Russia With Love. His polite, friendly disposition and entertaining games made him one of the most popular world champions. In the West, his tournament victory at Santa Monica 1966 is the most remembered http://www.worldchesslinks.net/ezqa....

In 1972, Spassky was challenged by Robert James Fischer for the World Championship; Spassky lost, 12½-8½, ending the reign of nearly 25-year Soviet hegemony over the World Championship. In the next year Spassky won the Soviet Championship ahead of many world-class grandmasters, [rusbase-5], including Anatoly Karpov.

In the next series of Candidates matches, Spassky defeated Robert Byrne, but lost to Karpov in their 1974 semifinal match. In 1977 he lost the Candidates final to Viktor Korchnoi, after eliminating Vlastimil Hort and Lajos Portisch. In 1992, Spassky played a rematch with Fischer for US $5 million and lost once again, 10 to 5 (with 15 draws).

Spassky died in Moscow on February 27, 2025.

Wikipedia article: Boris Spassky

https://nsn.fm/sport/umer-10-i-chem...

Last updated: 2025-02-28 17:12:50

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 100; games 1-25 of 2,498  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Korchnoi vs Spassky 1-0121948LeningradB71 Sicilian, Dragon, Levenfish Variation
2. Spassky vs Rodgaisky 0-181948URSB45 Sicilian, Taimanov
3. Spassky vs Shman 1-0351948Trud ChD37 Queen's Gambit Declined
4. Smyslov vs Spassky 1-0211948SimulB76 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack
5. Spassky vs A Nikitin  ½-½201949Ch URS (team) (juniors)A18 English, Mikenas-Carls
6. Korchnoi vs Spassky 0-1511949Leningrad Junior ChampionshipB71 Sicilian, Dragon, Levenfish Variation
7. V Liavdansky vs Spassky 0-1511949Leningrad Junior ChampionshipB23 Sicilian, Closed
8. Spassky vs S Avtonomov 1-0211949Leningrad Junior ChampionshipD28 Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical
9. Spassky vs A Vilup 1-0271949Leningrad Junior ChampionshipD30 Queen's Gambit Declined
10. V P Zakharov vs Spassky  1-0551949Leningrad Junior ChampionshipB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
11. Spassky vs Polugaevsky  ½-½151950USSR Junior Team ChampionshipD31 Queen's Gambit Declined
12. M Aizenshtadt vs Spassky 0-1331951Chigorin Memorial qual-12D50 Queen's Gambit Declined
13. Y Gusev vs Spassky 0-1241951URS-ch qfA00 Uncommon Opening
14. Y Estrin vs Spassky 0-1191951URS-ch qfC44 King's Pawn Game
15. G Chepukaitis vs Spassky 0-1351952MinskC31 King's Gambit Declined, Falkbeer Counter Gambit
16. Korchnoi vs Spassky 0-1471952Leningrad ChampionshipD10 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
17. Levenfish vs Spassky ½-½321952Leningrad ChampionshipD71 Neo-Grunfeld
18. Furman vs Spassky 0-1361952Leningrad ChampionshipD43 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
19. Spassky vs J Yuchtman 1-0281952URS-chT JuniorsE28 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch Variation
20. Taimanov vs Spassky ½-½591952Leningrad ChampionshipD45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
21. N Kopilov vs Spassky  0-1381952Leningrad ChampionshipD44 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
22. N Vedenski vs Spassky  0-1381952Leningrad ChampionshipD22 Queen's Gambit Accepted
23. B Vladimirov vs Spassky 0-1271953LeningradD25 Queen's Gambit Accepted
24. Spassky vs Smyslov 1-0351953BucharestE31 Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line
25. Petrosian vs Spassky ½-½151953BucharestD10 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
 page 1 of 100; games 1-25 of 2,498  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Spassky wins | Spassky loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 65 OF 99 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-30-12  King Death: Happy birthday to a champ!
Jan-30-12  Refused: Happy Birthday Boris.
Jan-30-12  Monoceros: Happy 75th to our beloved Russian bear.
Jan-30-12  kingfu: Boris,

I hope you are doing well. After all, one may do Chess even while in bed! Benjamin Franklin used to play Chess in France while in the TUB!

Happy Birthday, mon ami.

To win at the Game of Life is better than winning at the Game of Chess.

And you did both quite well. May you continue to do so for many more years.

My favorite Spassky game is when he beat Fischer with The King's Gambit.

Maestro!!

Jan-30-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  LoveThatJoker: Happy birthday, World Champion Grandmaster Spassky! :)

LTJ

Jan-30-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Happy Birthday Boris Spassky! Special year for him. Twenty since years since he last played Fischer in a match, and twenty years before that, you played a WCC match, with Fischer.
Jan-31-12  polarmis: Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik congratulating Spassky on his 75th birthday:

http://www.chessintranslation.com/2...

And here's a long interview with Spassky published yesterday, though apparently it took place before Spassky's stroke (I'm not 100% convinced about the source, but it's an interesting interview):

http://www.chessintranslation.com/2...

Jan-31-12  Tomlinsky: Boris Spassky: "I am in the endgame now, which is the most difficult part of the game. But I am still okay."
Jan-31-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Nice interview with Kramnik.
Jan-31-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  ketchuplover: belated happy birthday to herr spassky :)
Jan-31-12  talisman: happy belated birthday GM Boris Spassky, all the best from all of us.
Jan-31-12  TugasKamagong: <(Jul-09-11) Joshka: I know Boris was allowed to smoke during those television games back in 1982, but did he smoke during the 1972 match with Bobby?>

Can't remember my source or the exact words, but I remember someone writing that Spassky unilaterally refrained from smoking during the 1972 match, simply because he knew Fischer was a nonsmoker. In 1972 smokers had more "rights" than they do now, but Spassky didn't make an issue of it. It wasn't mentioned in any of the pre-match negotiations. And he never pointed out afterwards that he had made this gesture out of consideration for Fischer.

It may seem like a small thing, but those of us who smoke can appreciate what it's like to go 5 or 6 hours at a stretch without a cigarette. We already know Spassky is a real gentleman, and the way he handled this smoking issue showed he's got a lot of class.

In sharp contrast to this is the 1974 match with Byrne, Candidates' quarterfinal, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Robert Byrne was a smoker. Both Spassky and Byrne smoked heavily and incessantly all throughout that match.

Feb-01-12  AlphaMale: Nice tributes from the KKK for Spassky. Pity Bobby didn't have anything to add.
Feb-01-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Joshka: <TugasKamagong> Hey thanks for your input. Yes as a former smoker I do know how refraining can cause, headaches, ect. But this leads to another point. With all that was written about the match, we still don't know all that much about what went on! From what I read all the games were videotaped! Where are they?? Is someone holding them from distribution wanting an arm and a leg? We see the same clips over and over from Game 1, games last 4-6 hours, there is a treasure trove of Game footage that is tucked away somewhere by someone. How much are they asking? Lombardy writes a book recently and from what we hear nothing really new in the book on the match. Heck Spassky has never written on the match, nor Kavalek who was Fischer 2nd after Lombardy. Match of the Century, and the folks who were there basically shut up. Of course some have written, I have the Fine book, Evans and Byrne books and another or two, but so much more could be known. Oh well thanks for responding!
Feb-01-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Joshka: <TugasKamagong> <It wasn't mentioned an any of the pre-match negotiations> Another point of contention, I had a heated debate with someone (forgotten who) who believes all the hype about Bobby dictating 219 or so demands just before the match. I call this hogwash, and do not believe it was in the hundreds. Have NEVER seen what these demands were. If he did make all these demands, why wouldn't they be made public in order to shame him? I just don't believe it.
Feb-01-12  theagenbiteofinwit: <polarmis: Karpov, Kasparov and Kramnik congratulating Spassky on his 75th birthday: >

A very touching and emotional wishes from Karpov, especially from Kramnik.

Of course Kasparov mentions himself more than Spassky in his congratulations.

Happy Birthday Mr. Spassky, you not have the reputation as being one of the greatest players ever, you also have the more amazing distinction of being one of the greatest gentlemen of the game!

Feb-01-12  AlphaMale: <From what I read all the games were videotaped!>

What did you read? I thought only the first two games were filmed in the playing hall.

Feb-01-12  TheFocus: ALL of the games WERE videotaped.
Feb-01-12  Caissanist: The first game had a film crew in the hall. Bobby hated the noise they were making and refused to play any more games with the crew present. A later game was also filmed from someplace that was so quiet that he didn't notice (an air conditioning vault or something like that), but Bobby stopped that too as soon as he found out about it.

However, there were also two (I think) closed circuit cameras set up which recorded all the games, without human intervention. Release of the tapes was held up for years because of legal wrangling; don't know if that was ever resolved.

Feb-01-12  AlphaMale: 1970s quality CCTV. I can hardly wait.
Feb-02-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Joshka: <Caissanist> <Release of the tapes was held up for years because of legal wrangling; don't know if that was ever resolved> This is my inquiry exactly, why has this not been resolved, and if it has been resolved, why have they not been made for sale to the general public? Heck, I'd even settle for bootleg versions!
Feb-02-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Joshka: <TheFocus> <All of the games WERE videotaped> Exactly, and with all the research you are doing with your upcoming book, are you going to take up this subject in any detail, so for us who NEED to know, get the details!;-)??....Games lasting 4-6 hours for 20 some odd games, were talking around a 100 hours of video of Bobby and Boris at the board for the Match of the Century! Is Chester Fox still around? Does he own the rights? Maybe its the chess federation from Iceland?
Feb-02-12  AlphaMale: <<All of the games WERE videotaped>>

Still waiting for substantiation.

Feb-02-12  TheFocus: <AlphaMale> <<All of the games WERE videotaped>>

<Still waiting for substantiation.>

Then read <Caissanist>'s post above. He is correct.

<However, there were also two (I think) closed circuit cameras set up which recorded all the games, without human intervention.>

Feb-02-12  Petrosianic: That's my understanding too, though I don't know what became of the tapes. I'd heard that they were laying in a warehouse somewhere because Chester Fox didn't pay to get them out, or something like that.
Jump to page #   (enter # from 1 to 99)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 65 OF 99 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!
Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC