Editing Boris Spassky (section)

===Championship match with Fischer===
Spassky's reign as world champion lasted for three years, as he lost to Fischer of the United States in 1972 in the [[World Chess Championship 1972]],<ref>{{cite web |title = Boris Spassky |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=21136 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 11, 2016 |archive-date = March 8, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130308202550/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=21136 |url-status = live }}</ref> popularly known as the Match of the Century. The contest took place in [[Reykjavík]], [[Iceland]], at the height of the [[Cold War]],<ref>{{cite web |title = History of the World Chess Championship – Fischer vs Spassky 1972 – The Match of the Century |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=54397 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 16, 2016 |archive-date = October 3, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141003034139/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=54397 |url-status = live }}</ref> and consequently was seen as symbolic of the political confrontation between the two superpowers. Spassky accommodated many demands by Fischer, including moving the third game into a side room. The Fischer vs. Spassky world championship was the most widely covered chess match in history, reported upon by mainstream media throughout the world. Secretary of State [[Henry Kissinger]] spoke with Fischer urging him to play the match, and chess was at its apex.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

Going into the match, Fischer had never won a game from Spassky in five attempts, losing three.<ref>{{cite web |title = Chess games between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer before 1972 (no page title) |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?yearcomp=le&year=1971&pid=21136&pid2=19233 |website = chessgames.com |access-date = December 16, 2016 |archive-date = December 20, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220192116/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?yearcomp=le&year=1971&pid=21136&pid2=19233 |url-status = live }}</ref> In addition, Spassky had secured Geller as his coach, who also had a plus score against Fischer. However, Fischer won the title match 12½/8½ (+7−3=11), with one of the three losses by default.<ref name=Reshevsky1972>{{cite book|last=Reshevsky|first=Samuel|author-link=Samuel Reshevsky|year=1972|url=http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/collections/The%20Fischer-Spassky%20Games.pdf|title=CHESS : The Fischer-Spassky Games|publisher=Arco Publishing Co. N. Y.|isbn=0-85152-914-3|access-date=November 18, 2018|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920163442/http://billwall.phpwebhosting.com/collections/The%20Fischer-Spassky%20Games.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The match could be divided into halves, the first won convincingly by Fischer, and the second a close battle. Before the match, Fischer had defeated [[Mark Taimanov]], Bent Larsen, and Tigran Petrosian, but Spassky maintained his composure and competitiveness. It has been suggested that Spassky's preparation was largely bypassed by Fischer, since Spassky and his team wrongly expected Fischer to always play 1. e4 openings as White.<ref>{{harvnb|Reshevsky|1972|p=4}}, "Spassky's preparation for the match was ostensibly inadequate. He expected his opponent to play only the king pawn opening when Fischer conducted the White pieces. But Fischer surprised him when he switched to the queen pawn opening. Spassky was definitely not at all prepared for the latter."</ref>

According to Reshevsky, the match as a whole was disappointing. "It was marked by blunders by both players. The blunders committed by Spassky were incredible. In two games, for example, Spassky overlooked a one-move combination. In the first, he was compelled to resign immediately, and, in the other, he threw away all chances for a win. Fischer was also not in his best form. He made errors in a number of games. His play lacked brilliance, but his defense was excellent."<ref>{{harvnb|Reshevsky|1972|p=3}}</ref>