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 Nikitin, Aleksander S 1959 · URS-ch26 · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Bernstein Defense The Soviet School 0-1 Kortschnoj, Viktor vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Caro-Kann Defense: Two Knights Attack, Mindeno Variation, Exchange Line The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Kholmov, Ratmir D 1959 · URS-ch26 · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Bronstein Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Taimanov, Mark E vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Gligoric System, Exchange Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Yukhtman, Jacob 1959 · URS-ch26 · Pirc Defense The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Geller, Efim P 1959 · URS-ch26 · Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Wormald Attack The Soviet School ½-½ Keres, Paul vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Lutikov, Anatoly S 1959 · URS-ch26 · King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Petrosian, Tigran V 1959 · URS-ch26 · English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Nezhmetdinov, Rashid vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Averbakh, Yuri L 1959 · URS-ch26 · Ruy Lopez: Closed, Chigorin Defense The Soviet School 1-0 Polugaevsky, Lev vs Boris Spassky 1959 · URS-ch26 · Nimzo-Indian Defense: Rubinstein System, Rubinstein Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Vasily Smyslov 1960 · URS-ch27 · Slav Defense: Geller Gambit The Soviet School 1-0 Vasily Smyslov vs Boris Spassky 1960 · URS-chT · Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Bobby Fischer 1960 · Mar del Plata · King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky Gambit, Berlin Defense, Rubinstein Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Bronstein, David I 1960 · URS-ch27 · King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Polugaevsky, Lev 1960 · URS-ch27 · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Polugaevsky Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Soederborg, Berndt vs Boris Spassky 1960 · Leningrad tt · English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Mititelu, Gheorghe 1960 · Leningrad tt · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Moscow Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Boris Spassky vs Bagirov, Vladimir 1960 · URS-ch27 · Slav Defense: Geller Gambit The Soviet School ½-½ Krogius, Nikolai V vs Boris Spassky 1960 · URS-ch27 · Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Beverwijk Variation The Soviet School 0-1 Langeweg, Christian vs Boris Spassky 1960 · Leningrad tt · Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation The Soviet School ½-½ Boris Spassky vs Geller, Efim P 1960 · URS-ch27 · Richter-Veresov Attack The Soviet School 1-0 Boris Spassky vs Gibbs, Peter C 1960 · Leningrad tt · King's Gambit Accepted: Becker Defense The Soviet School