Date of Birth: January 30, 1937
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Biography
Boris Spassky is a renowned Russian chess grandmaster, born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia). He is best known for becoming the World Chess Champion in 1969 after defeating Tigran Petrosian and holding the title until 1972. His match against Bobby Fischer in 1972 is one of the most famous and publicized chess matches in history, often referred to as the “Match of the Century.” Spassky showed early prowess in chess, winning the Soviet Junior Championship in 1955. He became an International Grandmaster a year later, in 1956, at the age of 19. Over his career, Spassky has participated in numerous national and international tournaments, earning a reputation for his versatile and unpredictable playing style. After losing the World Championship to Fischer, Spassky continued to compete at a high level, though he never regained the title. In the later years of his life, he relocated to France and became a French citizen in 1978. Despite facing health issues in his later years, Spassky remains an influential figure in the chess world and continues to be celebrated for his contributions to the game.
5 Interesting Facts about Boris Spassky
1. Boris Spassky was the youngest player to compete in the Soviet Championship at the age of 16.
2. He is the tenth World Chess Champion, a title he held from 1969 to 1972.
3. Spassky has competed in 17 Soviet Championships, a record number.
4. He became a French citizen in 1978 and has lived in France for many years.
5. Despite his rivalry with Bobby Fischer, Spassky and Fischer maintained a respectful and friendly relationship.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Boris Spassky
1. “The place of chess in the society is closely related to the attitude of young people towards our game.”
2. “The shortcoming in chess is that it does not have enough variety. This is the result of the tremendous popularity of the game.”
3. “Bobby Fischer has an enormous talent. I saw him play at the age of 13, and I knew he was going to be a great player.”
4. “Chess is like life. To succeed, you must be willing to take risks.”
5. “In chess, you have to be ready to sacrifice material to get a more advantageous position.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Boris Spassky is estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Boris Spassky has one child, a son named Vasily Spassky, who was born in 1971.
Relevant Links
1. [Boris Spassky – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Spassky
2. [Boris Spassky – Chess.com](https://www.chess.com/players/boris-spassky
3. [Boris Spassky – ChessBase](https://en.chessbase.com/topic/boris-spassky
4. [The 1972 World Chess Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_1972
