Chess - Boris Spassky

[Slid]

I heard today that Boris Vasilyevich Spassky, tenth Champion of the World, passed away recently. Boris was known for his great talent for the game, epitomizing or even inventing the so called Universal style, playing either e4 or d4 and comfortable in either type of position. Also and most importantly as being a great gentleman of the board.

He is most famous in chess history for losing his title to Robert James Fisher in Reykjavik in 1972, yet a single moment during the match defined his very Character.

After a sketchy start, Fisher won the sixth game in a wonderful example of his masterful skill at the game. At the end, Spassky stood up, shook Fisher's hand and warmly congratulated Fisher on his game.

Fisher was astonished, turned around and said to howsoever was listening "did you see that, he shook my hand!".

The sixth game was the turning point and Fisher won the match with some ease.

Sadly for chess, Fisher never played seriously again. Happily for Boris, his chess career continued and he remained a strong player and a wonderful ambassador for the game for many years., spent latterly in Paris.

A great sportsman, gentleman, idol for the game and above all, family orientated guy.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

My brother was a good chess player he played for the school team i played a bit but was never very good.

 

[Slid]

My brother was a good chess player he played for the school team i played a bit but was never very good.

Just love that, Chippy. The point being that I follow the game, yet don't play it. Bit like Soccer for most guys my age.

 

[fluketamer]

sad news for sure. he was one of my hero chess players. my favorite was paul morphy for his incredible strategy that usually involved very grand sacrifices ( rooks or queens or multiple pieces) . then of course fisher becaue who would have thought an american coudl ever beat the russians. since fisher beat spasky ( and fisher was THE best) i always assumed out of american arrogance that spassky must be the absolute greatest player other than fisher. so i adored him. especially after fisher disappeared off the face of the earth. i always thought that was kind of cowardly.

i learned to play at age 4 from my father and watching him play my grandfather.

i beat my dad at a very young age and he thought that was amazing and bragged to everyone. i think it definitely encouraged me to learn more and play more and i quickly became too good for my father grandfather , siblings and friends.

chess back in the 80's was tough because really the only way to improve your game other than studying (which is monotonous and can be boring) was to play someone better than you and lose (and win) . this really improves your game. without internet or computers you didnt have a good pool to learn anything from. i thought i was good but i wasnt and i still am not.

in junior high school i was fortunate enough to be on the chess team and our teacher was the son of the nyt chess column writer and a grandmaster. i beat him once out of hundreds of games and always let everyone know that i once beat a grandmaster. but i found out later he let me win.

i played intramurally a few times and will always remember one of those games where i sacrificed my queen to win.

i also got to play at the paul morphy chess club in nyc (where i learned how bad i was by coming in almost last in every tournament. ) those players were really good.

in college i played chess in the park for a few bucks a game. i ran the table a few times. once i held it for 8 games before i lost. that was my best run.

that was always speed chess and for me at least the most educational.

when the internet came up it was easy to find players of your ranking and you could quickly improve your game and standings. now there are too many good players out there.

one thing for sure you definatley get rusty if you dont play. and it doesnt come back as quick as saying riding a bike.

sorry about the long post. chess used to be a big part of my life. before med school and all that nonsense.