Spassky was world champion, having finally knocked off Petrosian.

Gorbachev was an economist, he had finally out maneuvered the militarist and communist dogma types to become secretary of the Communist party, the leader of the USSR.

Spassky was unhappy, because the pressure and spotlight were all on him.

Gorby could exert influence on the Russian state by beginning to open things up a beat, allow reforms, more political expression, embrace more trade with the west. But, such changes are gradual and his influence was limited.

Spassky knew that world chess under Bobby Fischer would be a different animal than it would be if another Soviet (Spassky) were the world champion. Fischer could have an effect on the game that no one else could.

Gorbachev knew that Boris Yeltsyn was an embarrassing drunk, unqualified to be premier of a democratic Russia. Yet, Gorby stepped down to let the people's choice, Yeltsyn, become the first leader of Russia the democracy. It was the right thing to do, it was best in the long run for the Russian people.

Spassky was banned from travel to tournaments outside Russia for a year, as punishment for losing to Fischer. [Or, was it punishment for not forfeiting bobby Fischer, as he could have done when BF was a no-show for the first two games of the '72 match?]

Yeltsyn had to quietly disappear and stay out of the limelight. The most powerful man in Russia was probably living at a dacha on the Black Sea, fishing and walking his dog every day.

Both men suffered, for doing 'the right thing.'

In the end, what really happened? The reforms, the new Russia, were gradually stamped out by Vladamir Putin, Stalin with a black belt in judo.

* Riga 59
* Mar Del Plata 1960
* 1962 Chess Olympiad Individual Gold on Board 3 * Moscov Zonal 1964
* Belgrade 1964
* Candidates 194-65
* Chigorin memorial 1965 (shared)
* Hastings 1965-66
* Piatigorsky 1966
* Beverwijk 1967
* Chigorin memorial 1967 (shared)
* Chigorin memorial 1967
* Candidates 1967-68
* San Juan 1969.
* Siegen Olympiad 1970 individual Gold
* Leiden Chess Club tournament 1970
* Amsterdam IBM 1970
** Canada Open 1971 (does it count as international or national?) * Dortmund 1973
* Bugojno 1978 (Shared)
* Montilla 1978
* Munchen 1979 (ahead of likes of Yuri Balashov, Ulf Anderssen, Robert Huebner, Wolfgang Unzicker, Olafsson) * Baden 1980
* Linares 1983
___________________________________

Besides these <international> tournaments, Spassky won the USSR championship two times: 1961 and 1973.

Besides those two national championsips, Spassky won some preliminary national tournaments that would qualify him to the national championships.

Besides those two categories, Spassky won some national team championships as well as world junior championship. ___________________________________

Do you know of any? It is a shame that Spassky is hardly popular despite having a very great career. He is treated like a fluke champion. Even Mikhail Tal is more famous than him despite having arguably an inferior career though Tal's career is probably as good as or better than Spassky's. Spassky is treated like Euwe and Smyslov: Champion who reigned too short with hardly any notable achievement other than being champion

Among the tournaments he won, the ones I think is as prestigious as any tourney won by other champions are the following:

* 1957 European Men's Team Chess Championship, Board 5 - Individual Gold. * Soviet Team Chess Championship 1960, Board 1 - Individual Gold * Soviet Team Chess Championship 1962, Board 1 - Individual Gold * Eureopan Men's Team Chess Championship 1073, Board 1 - Individual Gold. ____________________________________
The above events are professional open events (without age restriction). Then, besides his World Junior Championship, Spassky has these individual accolades:

Steinitz died in poverty, Lasker too suffered such fate. Capa spent his post-championship life mourning of his lost title. Alekhine had to fight with the ghost of Capa myth and he conspired with Nazis for which he would regret later. Botwinnik was a communist who had to co-ordinate so much politics, Tal lived unhealthy, unstable and unbalanced life. Petrosian too had to flirt with the party officials and in 1977 he ended up being dumped of off his post as editor. Fischer? You know Fischer. Karpov used to pretend to be a loyal communist, he was pretending to be someone he was not just to keep his flirt with high level officials going. Then he flirted with FIDE officials and now with Putin government. Like Botwinnik, he is in the middle of so much politics: still keep pretending someone he is not. You know how life went for Kasparov as he headed into politics. Exiled (or self-exiled) and lynched by his former fans.

Spassky just lived a frank life. He was not even a party member, he was not acting like a communist. He did not need to flirt with communist party members, unlike Petrosian or Karpov. did not have unhealthy life, unlike Tal. Did not have to spent all his time studying chess, unlike Kasparov or Fischer. Was never hated like Kasparov. Never needed to be in the middle of politics and feud, unlike Karpov and Botwinnik.

Spassky did not chase fame, did not run for chase. He just pursued happy life: Drink, eat, earn money and spend it. Did not even need to work hard. Imagine how hard work Karpov or Kasparov had to maintain in order to maintain their achievements. Spassky did not do any of them.

He was a child who had an interviewer make him look bad in press, for the whole world to see, when he could have showed more discretion.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/spass...

Fischer was a MONSTER in the 60's and clearly the BEST chess player in the world.

By some distance too .>

<<MarcusBierce: <harrylime: Fischer was a MONSTER in the 60's and clearly the BEST chess player in the world. By some distance too .>

Fischer was possibly scared of a pre-champion Spassky, which is why he ducked him for two consecutive cycles in the heart of the 1960’s>>

Fischer was scared of no Fooker over the board. Fischer's problems were away from chess. As we now know.

Boris Spassky is a God to me .