[Libloather]

I recall the b+W PBS coverage of at least one Fischer/Spassky match. They would make projected moves on a felt wall for the audience. Moved pieces all over the place, reset the board for the next move and then move pieces all over the place. Learned a lot.

[TheConservator]

Boris Spassky: Chess is like life.
Bobby Fischer: Chess IS life!

Also Boris Spassky: My ex wife and I were like bishops of opposite colors.

(For you non chess players, he is referring to the fact that such bishops move around the same board, but never can meet on the same square).

RIP.

[Alberta's Child]

He famously defended his title against American Bobby Fischer in the "Match of the Century" in 1972 -- a match which, played at the height of the Cold War, became a cultural proxy battle between the US and Soviet Russia.

This guy was quite a fascinating character. He was a Russian nationalist and described himself as a "monarchist," so he didn't quite fit the role of a Cold War icon in the Soviet Union.

[gawatchman]

I thought highly of Spassky even though Fischer accused the Russians of cheating. I thought he was a great humble Chess player but he couldn’t beat the GOAT of Chess who was Bobby Fischer.

[Dr. Franklin]

Spassky moved to France and became a French citizen in 1978.

[TChad]

1972 Championship:

The first game was played on July 11, 1972. The last game (the 21st) began on August 31, was adjourned after 40 moves, and Spassky resigned the next day without resuming play. Fischer won the match 12½–8½, becoming the eleventh undisputed world champion.

[Larry Lucido]

RIP

[algore]

I had one of these but it disappeared many years ago

I saw it at a family gathering when it turned out that I must have given it to my sisters kid who is a math teacher at a private school today. He was always good at chess.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Best game of the '72 Fischer-Spassky match (game 13).

[Red Badger]

Checkmate.......

[FatherofFive]

I remember that match was on the front page, every day, of the Buffalo Courier Express

Fischer was my hero, before he went crazy.

[LRoggy]

Remember it well, hosted by Shelby Lyman with a rotating set of analysts

[BobL]

Spassky got to live a DIGNIFIED life after the chess match, while Fischer was a victim of the Neocons, decades ago, and was left without a home until Iceland took him in (where he later died).