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The death of GM Boris Spassky impacts all the world's true chess lovers. He was one of my most admired players. A very long and eventful life, to be sure.
Here is some info about him I didn't know until recently: from 'Soviet Chess 1917-1991', by GM Andrew Soltis (one of the greatest chess books ever): Spassky began receiving a Soviet chess stipend of 100 rubles per month when he was ten years old, in 1947, due to influential Leningrad chess people with connections, whom he had impressed with his youthful talent. His family was in crisis, they needed money, and he considered himself the man of the family from that juncture.
Another great story from Soltis about Boris: following his last-round loss to GM Mikhail Tal in the 1958 Soviet Championship, which knocked Boris out of the next World Championship cycle ( a draw, offered during the game by Tal but declined, would have given Boris a playoff match with GM Averbakh for an Interzonal spot; Spassky went on to overpress, met strong resistance, and then himself offered a draw which was refused!! ), he was very downcast when he met a friend,. The friend related later, from their conversation: 'Borah, why are you crying? Tal will go to the Interzonal, and he will win there. Then, he will win the Candidates' Tournament, then he will have a match with Botvinnik. He will win from Botvinnik, to become World Champion. Then there will be a return match, and he will lose to Botvinnik. Meanwhile, you will play and play and achieve everything you want.
The win by Boris over GM Bent Larsen, from the USSR vs. World match, Belgrade 1970, in 17 moves, with Black, still amazes me, after I've played it over dozens of times. I still remember my first time seeing the game; I was awestruck! Boris had some special qualities for chess, the likes of which the world has never seen, and may never see again. He was also respected worldwide for chess, with very few if any enemies.
Spassky was treated very badly in 1974 when he was to play GM Anatoly Karpov in the 2nd round Candidates' match. GM Efim Geller was Spassky's coach for many years, but he went over to help Karpov!!l Soltis does not mention this, which is surprising, given that he covers so much more that is both essential and less known. This switch by Geller was the decisive factor in Karpov's match victory. It had to be crushing for Spassky, to have his secrets gifted to his youthful rival.
Here is some info about him I didn't know until recently: from 'Soviet Chess 1917-1991', by GM Andrew Soltis (one of the greatest chess books ever): Spassky began receiving a Soviet chess stipend of 100 rubles per month when he was ten years old, in 1947, due to influential Leningrad chess people with connections, whom he had impressed with his youthful talent. His family was in crisis, they needed money, and he considered himself the man of the family from that juncture.
Another great story from Soltis about Boris: following his last-round loss to GM Mikhail Tal in the 1958 Soviet Championship, which knocked Boris out of the next World Championship cycle ( a draw, offered during the game by Tal but declined, would have given Boris a playoff match with GM Averbakh for an Interzonal spot; Spassky went on to overpress, met strong resistance, and then himself offered a draw which was refused!! ), he was very downcast when he met a friend,. The friend related later, from their conversation: 'Borah, why are you crying? Tal will go to the Interzonal, and he will win there. Then, he will win the Candidates' Tournament, then he will have a match with Botvinnik. He will win from Botvinnik, to become World Champion. Then there will be a return match, and he will lose to Botvinnik. Meanwhile, you will play and play and achieve everything you want.
The win by Boris over GM Bent Larsen, from the USSR vs. World match, Belgrade 1970, in 17 moves, with Black, still amazes me, after I've played it over dozens of times. I still remember my first time seeing the game; I was awestruck! Boris had some special qualities for chess, the likes of which the world has never seen, and may never see again. He was also respected worldwide for chess, with very few if any enemies.
Spassky was treated very badly in 1974 when he was to play GM Anatoly Karpov in the 2nd round Candidates' match. GM Efim Geller was Spassky's coach for many years, but he went over to help Karpov!!l Soltis does not mention this, which is surprising, given that he covers so much more that is both essential and less known. This switch by Geller was the decisive factor in Karpov's match victory. It had to be crushing for Spassky, to have his secrets gifted to his youthful rival.
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