Former champion Boris Spassky passed away at the age of 88, according to the Russian Chess Federation. Born on January 30, 1937, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Spassky stood out as a skilled chess player. In 1966, he challenged the world champion, the Soviet Tigran Petrosian, but was defeated.
In 1972, Spassky faced Bobby Fischer in a legendary match during the Cold War. After being defeated by Fischer in a confrontation marked by East-West tensions, Spassky fell from grace in the Soviet Union. He moved to France after marrying a French woman, where he lived away from public attention until 1992, when he had a rematch with Fischer in Yugoslavia, again being defeated.
Throughout his life, Spassky faced family conflicts and returned to his home country. At the age of 16, he defeated the then-world champion, Vasily Smyslov. Over time, he became the first universal player, winning the Candidates Tournament twice in a row.
In 2006 and 2010, Spassky suffered two strokes, which significantly weakened him. Despite being more known for his losses than his wins, Spassky is still remembered as a prominent figure in the world of chess.