Boris Spassky

1937– Soviet Union / France World Champion 1969–1972

World champion 1969–1972, the great universal player who could attack like Tal and grind like Petrosian. He applauded Fischer's Game 6 in Reykjavik from his own side of the board — one of sport's most graceful gestures in defeat.

2,230games
713won · 32%
1,300drawn · 58%
217lost · 10%
1952–2009span

Games in the Archive

2,230 games
1-0 Boris Spassky vs Vasiukov, Evgeni 1959 · Alekhine mem · Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Filip, Miroslav 1959 · Alekhine mem · Ruy Lopez: Closed, Worrall Attack The Soviet School 0-1 Lutikov, Anatoly S vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Alekhine mem · Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System The Soviet School ½-½ Larsen, Bent vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Alekhine mem · Sicilian Defense: Closed, Fianchetto Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Simagin, Vladimir 1959 · Alekhine mem · Slav Defense: Schlechter Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Portisch, Lajos vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Alekhine mem · King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Teschner, Rudolf vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Riga · Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Witkowski, Stefan 1959 · Riga · Grünfeld Defense: Exchange Variation, Classical Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Niemela, Ilmari vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Riga · Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Normal Line The Soviet School 0-1 Gipslis, Aivars vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Riga · Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Johannessen, Svein vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Riga · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Tolush, Alexander V vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Riga · Ruy Lopez: Classical Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Pietzsch, Wolfgang vs Boris Spassky 1959 · Riga · Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Main Line The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Nei, Iivo 1959 · Riga · Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Sliwa, Bogdan 1959 · Riga · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Mikenas, Vladas 1959 · Riga · Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit, Spassky Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Klavins, Janis 1959 · Riga · Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Franz, Joachim 1959 · Riga · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Gufeld, Eduard vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Ruy Lopez: Classical Defense, Benelux Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Bronstein, David I 1959 · URS-ch26 · Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Vasiukov, Evgeni vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Mikenas Gambit The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Gurgenidze, Bukhuti 1959 · URS-ch26 · King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Furman, Semen Abramovich vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Krogius, Nikolai V vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation The Soviet School