Editing Boris Spassky

{{Short description|Russian chess grandmaster (1937–2025)}}
{{family name hatnote|Vasilievich|Spassky|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox chess player
| name          = Boris Spassky
| native_name   = {{lang|ru|Борис Спасский}}
| image         = Dhr. Boris Spassky, Bestanddeelnr 932-7320.jpg
| caption       = Spassky in 1983
| birth_name    = Boris Vasilyevich Spassky
| country       = {{ublist|[[Soviet Union]] (until 1982)|France (1982–2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/player/Spassky,%20Boris%20V..html|title=Spassky, Boris V.|website=OlimpBase}}</ref>|Russia (from 2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/fedchange.phtml?year=2013|title=Transfers in 2013|website=[[FIDE]]}}</ref>}}
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1937|01|30}}
| birth_place   = [[Leningrad]], Soviet Union<!--See MOS:GEOLINK-->
| death_date    = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2025|02|27|1937|01|30}}}}
| death_place   = Moscow, Russia
| title         = [[Grandmaster (chess)|Grandmaster]] (1955)
| worldchampion = 1969–1972
| rating        = [retired]
| peakrating    = 2690 (January 1971)
| peakranking   = No. 2 (January 1971)
| FideID        = 600024
}}

'''Boris Vasilyevich Spassky''' ({{langx|ru|Борис Васильевич Спасский}}; January 30, 1937 – February 27, 2025) was a Russian [[chess grandmaster]] who was the tenth [[World Chess Champion]], holding the title from 1969 to 1972. Spassky played three world championship matches: he lost to [[Tigran Petrosian]] in [[World Chess Championship 1966|1966]]; defeated Petrosian in [[World Chess Championship 1969|1969]] to become world champion; then lost to [[Bobby Fischer]] in a famous match in [[World Chess Championship 1972|1972]].

Spassky won the [[Soviet Chess Championship]] twice outright ([[1961 USSR Chess Championship (29th)|1961]], [[1973 USSR Chess Championship|1973]]), and twice lost in playoffs ([[1956 USSR Chess Championship|1956]], [[1963 USSR Chess Championship|1963]]), after tying for first place during the event proper. He was a [[Candidates Tournament|World Chess Championship candidate]] on seven occasions ([[Candidates Tournament 1956|1956]], [[Candidates Matches 1965|1965]], [[Candidates Matches 1968|1968]], [[Candidates Matches 1974|1974]], [[Candidates Matches 1977|1977]], [[Candidates Matches 1980|1980]], [[Candidates Matches 1985–1987|1985]]). In addition to his Candidates wins in 1965 and 1968, Spassky reached the semi-final stage in 1974 and the final stage in 1977.

Spassky emigrated to France in 1976 and became a [[French citizen]] in 1978. He continued to compete in tournaments, but was no longer a major contender for the world title. Spassky lost an unofficial [[Fischer–Spassky (1992 match)|rematch against Fischer]] in 1992. In 2012, he left France and returned to Russia.

==Early life==
Spassky was born in [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]] (now Saint Petersburg) to Russian parents. His father, Vasili Vladimirovich Spassky, served in the military.<ref>''[http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/505904 10th World Champion Boris Spassky: My Knowledge of Chess Openings Was Really Bad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423002157/http://www.sovsport.ru/gazeta/article-item/505904# |date=April 23, 2016 }}'' interview in the [[Sovetsky Sport]] newspaper, January 20, 2012 (in Russian)</ref> He came from the family of Vladimir Alexandrovich Spassky, a prominent [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] priest of the [[Kursk Governorate]], later a [[protoiereus]] of the Russian Church (since 1916), as well as a State Duma deputy (1912–1917) and an active member of the [[Union of the Russian People]].<ref>[http://sr.isa.ru/~bin/nkws.exe/ans/nm/?HYZ9EJxGHoxITYZCF2JMTcCid71XeeujfeiideKheCxyAHUtAru2dOiUTawlBWspC1M* Spassky Vladimir Alexandrovich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402105032/http://sr.isa.ru/~bin/nkws.exe/ans/nm/?HYZ9EJxGHoxITYZCF2JMTcCid71XeeujfeiideKheCxyAHUtAru2dOiUTawlBWspC1M* |date=April 2, 2015 }} in the ''New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church of the XX Century'' database by [[Saint Tikhon's Orthodox University]] (in Russian)</ref><ref>Stepanov A.D., Ivanov A.A. (2008). ''Black Hundred. A Historical Encyclopedia 1900—1917''. Moscow: Institute of the Russian Civilisation, 640 pages. {{ISBN|978-5-93675-139-4}}</ref><ref>The name ''Spasski'', from Old Russian ''spasti'' to save, was a surname adopted by Orthodox priests, affirming their dedication to Jesus Christ as Saviour. ''A Dictionary of Surnames'', OUP, 1988.</ref> Boris's mother Ekaterina Petrovna Spasskaya (''née'' Petrova) was a school teacher. She was born in the Ryadnevo village of the [[Gdov]] district (now [[Pskov Oblast]]) as an [[Legitimacy (family law)|illegitimate]] daughter of Daria Ivanovna Ivanova (from a local peasant family) and Andrei Kupriyanovich Kupriyanov, a landlord who owned houses in [[Saint Petersburg]] and [[Pskov]]. After some time Daria Ivanovna fled to St. Petersburg, leaving her daughter with Petr Vasiliev, a relative of hers, who raised Ekaterina under the surname of Petrova. She joined her mother later on.<ref>''[http://www.euruchess.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=1961 Boris «The Tenth»: I'm Not Even a Pskovian, I'm a Gdovian] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416073857/http://www.euruchess.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=viewnews&id=1961 |date=April 16, 2012 }}'' interview by the Pskovskaya Pravda newspaper on the Euruchess.org: Russian Chess Portal of the EU, November 27, 2011 (in Russian)</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031211332/http://museum.sverdlovka.net/index.php/lifepeople/9-kategorylifepeople/21-champsister.html Iraida Spasskaya. Champion — Sister of a Champion] by Mikhail Mikhailov, a local historian for the Virtual Museum of the Sverdlovsky Urban Settlement, 2007 (in Russian)</ref>

Spassky learned to play chess at the age of five on a train evacuating from Leningrad during the [[siege of Leningrad]] in [[World War II]]. During the war, he was sent to an orphanage in [[Siberia]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Death of Boris Spassky: the Cold War on a chessboard in 1972 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250227-death-of-boris-spassky-the-cold-war-on-a-chessboard-in-1972 |work=France 24 |date=27 February 2025}}</ref> He first drew wide attention in 1947 at age 10, when he defeated Soviet champion [[Mikhail Botvinnik]] in a [[simultaneous exhibition]] in Leningrad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7883 |title=ChessBase News &#124; Boris Spassky: a chess legend turns seventy-five |date=January 30, 2012 |publisher=Chessbase.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109030509/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7883 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spassky's early coach was Vladimir Zak, a respected master and trainer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Barden |first=Leonard |date=2025-02-28 |title=Boris Spassky obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/28/boris-spassky-obituary |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> During his youth, from the age of 10, Spassky often worked on chess for several hours a day with [[Chess master|master]]-level coaches. He set records as the youngest Soviet player to achieve first category rank (age 10), candidate master rank (age 11),{{Cn|date=February 2025}} and [[Chess master|Soviet Master]] rank (age 15).<ref name=":1" /> In 1952, at 15, Spassky scored 50 percent in the Soviet Championship semi-final at [[Riga]], and placed second in the [[Leningrad City Chess Championship|Leningrad Championship]] that same year, for which he was highly praised by Botvinnik.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

==Career==
As a statistic encompassing all of the games of his career, Spassky's most-played openings with both the White and Black pieces were the [[Sicilian Defence]] and the [[Ruy Lopez]].<ref>{{cite web |title = The chess games of 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>

Spassky beat six undisputed World Champions at least twice (not necessarily while they were reigning): [[Vasily Smyslov]], [[Mikhail Tal]], [[Tigran Petrosian]], [[Bobby Fischer]], [[Anatoly Karpov]], and [[Garry Kasparov]].{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

===Young grandmaster===
[[File:Boris Spasski (1956) - corrected.jpg|thumb|upright=0.90|right|Spassky in 1956]]
Spassky made his international debut in 1953, aged sixteen, in [[Bucharest]], [[Romania]], finishing tied for fourth place with [[Laszlo Szabo (chess player)|Laszlo Szabo]] on 12/19, an event won by his trainer, [[Alexander Tolush]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Bucharest_1953/25016|title=Bucharest 1953|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621223020/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Bucharest_1953/25016|url-status=live}}</ref> At Bucharest he defeated [[Vasily Smyslov]], who challenged for the World Championship the following year. In the same year, Spassky was awarded the title of [[International Master]] by [[FIDE]] at its congress in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.<ref>{{cite news|title=FIDE Regulates Future Events|work=[[Chess Life]]|volume=VIII|number=4|date=October 20, 1953}}</ref> In his first attempt at the [[USSR Chess Championship|Soviet Championship]] final, the 22nd in the series, held in Moscow 1955, Spassky tied for third place with 11½/19,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch22_1955/25191|title=URS-ch22 1955|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621222627/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch22_1955/25191|url-status=live}}</ref> after Smyslov and [[Efim Geller]], which was sufficient to qualify him for the [[Gothenburg]] [[Interzonal]] later that year.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

The same year, he won the [[World Junior Chess Championship]] held at [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]], scoring 6/7 to qualify for the final,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Wch_U20_prel-A_1955/25201 |title=Wch U20 prel-A 1955 – 365Chess.com Tournaments |publisher=365chess.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044338/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Wch_U20_prel-A_1955/25201 |url-status=live }}</ref> then 8/9 in the final to win by a full point over [[Edmar Mednis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Wch_U20_final-A_1955/25199|title=Wch U20 final-A 1955|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054340/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Wch_U20_final-A_1955/25199|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky competed for the [[Lokomotiv (sports society)|Lokomotiv]] [[Voluntary Sports Societies of the USSR|Voluntary Sports Society]].{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

By sharing seventh place with 11/20 at Gothenburg,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Gothenburg_Interzonal_1955/25212|title=Gothenburg Interzonal 1955|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002331/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Gothenburg_Interzonal_1955/25212|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky qualified for the 1956 [[Candidates' Tournament]], held in [[Amsterdam]], automatically gaining the grandmaster title, and was then the youngest to hold the title. At Amsterdam, he tied for third place with four others in the ten-player field, scoring 9½/18.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_Tournament_1956/25235 |title=Candidates Tournament 1956 – 365Chess.com Tournaments |publisher=365chess.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121180408/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_Tournament_1956/25235 |url-status=live }}</ref> At the 23rd Soviet final, held in Leningrad in January–February 1956,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/urs-ch23_1956/25288|title=URS-ch23 1956|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=November 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121184907/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/urs-ch23_1956/25288|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky shared first place on 11½/19, with [[Mark Taimanov]] and [[Yuri Averbakh]], but Taimanov won the subsequent playoff to become champion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch23_playoff-1pl_1956/25279|title=URS-ch23 playoff-1pl 1956|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=November 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122001051/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch23_playoff-1pl_1956/25279|url-status=live}}</ref> defeating Spassky in both their games. Spassky then tied for first in a semifinal for the 24th Soviet championship, thereby qualifying.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch_sf_1956/25277|title=URS-ch sf 1956|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054003/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch_sf_1956/25277|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Uneven results===
Spassky then went into a slump in world championship qualifying events, failing to advance to the next two [[Interzonal]]s (1958 and 1962), a prerequisite to earn the right to play for the [[World Chess Championship|world championship]]. This crisis coincided with the hard three final years of his first marriage before his divorce in 1961,<ref>As Boris Spassky said: "I had a very hard three years from 1959 to 1961. My nervous energy was completely destroyed for three years, and I could do nothing right" (Cafferty 1972, p. 21)</ref> the same year that he broke with his trainer Tolush.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

In the [[1957 USSR Chess Championship|24th Soviet final]], played at Moscow in January–February 1957, Spassky shared fourth place with Tolush, as both scored 13/21.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch24_1957/25371 |title=URS-ch24 1957 – 365Chess.com Tournaments |publisher=365chess.com |date=January 24, 1957 |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121182514/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch24_1957/25371 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spassky's failure to qualify for the [[Portoroz Interzonal 1958|Portoroz Interzonal]] came after a last-round defeat at the hands of [[Mikhail Tal]], in a nervy game in the 1958 Soviet championship,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch25_1958/25434|title=URS-ch25 1958|website=365Chess.com|date=January 13, 1958|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220457/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch25_1958/25434|url-status=live}}</ref> held at [[Riga]]. Spassky had the advantage for much of the game, but missed a difficult win after [[adjournment (chess)|adjournment]], then declined a [[draw (chess)|draw]]. A win would have qualified Spassky for the Interzonal, and a draw would have ensured a share of fourth place with [[Yuri Averbakh]], with qualification possible via a playoff.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

Spassky tied for first place at Moscow 1959 on 7/11, with Smyslov and [[David Bronstein]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Alekhine_mem_1959/25463|title=Alekhine mem 1959|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160455/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Alekhine_mem_1959/25463|url-status=live}}</ref> He shared second place in the 26th Soviet final with Tal, at [[Tbilisi]] 1959, finishing a point behind champion [[Tigran Petrosian]], on 12½/19.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch26_1959/25511|title=URS-ch26 1959|website=365Chess.com|date=January 9, 1959|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=November 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122001809/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch26_1959/25511|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after Spassky notched a victory at Riga 1959, with 11½/13, one-half point in front of [[Vladas Mikėnas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Riga_1959/25531|title=Riga 1959|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=December 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208114827/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Riga_1959/25531|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky finished in a tie for ninth at the 27th Soviet final in Leningrad, with 10/19, as fellow Leningrader [[Viktor Korchnoi]] scored his first of four Soviet titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch27_1960/25587|title=URS-ch27 1960|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114345/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch27_1960/25587|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky travelled to [[Argentina]], where he shared first place with [[Bobby Fischer]], two points ahead of Bronstein, at [[Mar del Plata chess tournaments|Mar del Plata]] 1960 on 13½/15,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Mar_del_Plata_1960/25598|title=Mar del Plata 1960|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104410/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Mar_del_Plata_1960/25598|url-status=live}}</ref> defeating Fischer in their first career meeting. Spassky played on board one for the USSR at the 7th Student Olympiad in Leningrad,<ref>Di Felice 2010, p. 490</ref> where he won the silver,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olimpbase.org/playersy/59pz3v1e.html|title=Spassky, Boris: World Student Team Chess Championship|year=2003|publisher=Wojciech Bartelski & Co|access-date=January 21, 2014|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104223309/http://www.olimpbase.org/playersy/59pz3v1e.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but lost the gold to [[William Lombardy]], also losing their individual encounter.<ref>"Spassky, who never joined the Communist Party, may have been considered politically unreliable. The authorities were particularly unhappy when he lost to William Lombardy of the United States in 1960 at the world students' championship matches. They charged that he had not trained conscientiously enough, had not prepared properly." Schonberg 1973, p. 255.</ref>

Another disappointment for Spassky came at the qualifier for the next Interzonal, the Soviet final, played in Moscow 1961,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1016555 |title=USSR Championship 1961a |publisher=Chessgames.com |date=February 11, 1961 |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020183827/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1016555 |url-status=live }}</ref> where he again lost a crucial last-round game, this to [[Leonid Stein]], who thus qualified, as Spassky finished equal fifth with 11/19, while Petrosian won.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

===Title contender===
Spassky decided upon a switch in trainers, from the volatile attacker Tolush to the calmer [[chess strategy|strategist]] [[Igor Bondarevsky]]. This proved the key to his resurgence. He won his first of two USSR titles in the 29th Soviet championship at [[Baku]] 1961, with a score of 14½/20, one-half point ahead of [[Lev Polugaevsky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch29_1961/25710|title=URS-ch29 1961|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052825/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch29_1961/25710|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky shared second with Polugaevsky at [[Capablanca Memorial|Havana]] 1962 with 16/21, behind winner [[Miguel Najdorf]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Capablanca_mem_1962/25729|title=Capablanca mem 1962|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060135/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Capablanca_mem_1962/25729|url-status=live}}</ref> He placed joint fifth, with [[Leonid Stein]] at the 30th Soviet championship held in [[Yerevan]] 1962, with 11½/19.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch30_1962/25809|title=URS-ch30 1962|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220003/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch30_1962/25809|url-status=live}}</ref> At Leningrad 1963, the site of the 31st Soviet final, Spassky tied for first with Stein and [[Ratmir Kholmov]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch31_1963/25940|title=URS-ch31 1963|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221204/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch31_1963/25940|url-status=live}}</ref> with Stein winning the playoff, which was held in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch31_playoff-1pl_1964/26031|title=URS-ch31 playoff-1pl 1964|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016203311/https://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch31_playoff-1pl_1964/26031|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky won at [[Belgrade]] 1964 with an undefeated 13/17, as Korchnoi and [[Borislav Ivkov]] shared second place with 11½.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Belgrade_1964/25953|title=Belgrade 1964|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154256/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Belgrade_1964/25953|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished fourth at [[Sochi]] 1964 with 9½/15, as [[Nikolai Krogius]] won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Chigorin_mem_1964/25964|title=Chigorin mem 1964|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001946/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Chigorin_mem_1964/25964|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Interzone schaaktoernooi in het GAK gebouw te Amsterdam, Spasski komt even kijke, Bestanddeelnr 916-5337.jpg|thumb|Spassky (standing) and Larsen (with black), Amsterdam (June 1964).]]

In the 1964 Soviet Zonal at Moscow, a seven-player double [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] event, Spassky won with 7/12, overcoming a start of one draw and two losses, to advance to the [[Amsterdam]] Interzonal the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Moscow_zt_1964/26004|title=Moscow zt 1964|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060035/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Moscow_zt_1964/26004|url-status=live}}</ref> At Amsterdam, he tied for first place, along with [[Mikhail Tal]], [[Vasily Smyslov]] and [[Bent Larsen]] on 17/23, with all four, along with [[Borislav Ivkov]] and [[Lajos Portisch]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Amsterdam_Interzonal_1964/26079|title=Amsterdam Interzonal 1964|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051451/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Amsterdam_Interzonal_1964/26079|url-status=live}}</ref> thus qualifying for the newly created [[Candidates' Tournament|Candidates' Matches]] the next year. With Bondarevsky, Spassky's style broadened and deepened, with poor results mostly banished, yet his fighting spirit was even enhanced. He added psychology and surprise to his quiver, and this proved enough to eventually propel him to the top.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

===Challenger===
Spassky was considered an all-rounder on the chess board, and his adaptable "universal style" was a distinct advantage in beating many top grandmasters. In the 1965 cycle, he beat [[Paul Keres]] in the quarterfinal round at [[Riga]] 1965 with careful strategy, triumphing in the last game to win 6–4 (+4−2=4).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf3_1965/26131|title=Candidates qf3 1965|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225925/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf3_1965/26131|url-status=live}}</ref> Also at Riga, he defeated [[Efim Geller]] with mating attacks, winning by 5½–2½ (+3−0=5).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf2_1965/26133|title=Candidates sf2 1965|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053215/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf2_1965/26133|url-status=live}}</ref> Then, in his Candidates' Final match against [[Mikhail Tal]] at [[Tbilisi]] 1965, Spassky often managed to steer play into quieter positions, either avoiding former champion Tal's tactical strength, or exacting too high a price for complications. Though losing the first game, he won by 7–4 (+4−1=6).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_final_1965/26218|title=Candidates final 1965|website=365Chess.com|date=November 1, 1965|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055145/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_final_1965/26218|url-status=live}}</ref>

Spassky won two tournaments in the run-up to the final. He shared first at the third [[Chigorin Memorial]] in [[Sochi]], in 1965 with [[Wolfgang Unzicker]] on 10½/15,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Chigorin_mem_1965/26137 |title=Chigorin mem 1965 |website=365Chess.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060059/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Chigorin_mem_1965/26137 |url-status=live }}</ref> then tied for first at [[Hastings International Chess Congress|Hastings]] 1965–66 with [[Wolfgang Uhlmann]] on 7½/9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Hastings_6566_1965/26220|title=Hastings 6566 1965|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053706/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Hastings_6566_1965/26220|url-status=live}}</ref>

Spassky lost a keenly fought [[World Chess Championship 1966|match]] to Petrosian in Moscow, with three wins against Petrosian's four, with seventeen draws,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/World_Championship_26th_1966/26313|title=World Championship 26th 1966|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220905/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/World_Championship_26th_1966/26313|url-status=live}}</ref> though the last of his three victories came only in the twenty-third game, after Petrosian had ensured his retention of the title, the first outright match victory for a reigning champion since the latter of [[Alexander Alekhine|Alekhine's]] successful defences against [[Efim Bogoljubov|Bogoljubov]] in [[World Chess Championship 1934|1934]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/World_Championship_15th_1934/28301|title=World Championship 15th 1934|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221816/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/World_Championship_15th_1934/28301|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky's first event after the title match was the fourth Chigorin Memorial, where he finished tied for fifth with [[Anatoly Lein]] as Korchnoi won.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Sochi_Chigorin_mem_04th_1966/26318 |title=Sochi Chigorin mem 04th 1966 |website=365Chess.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055313/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Sochi_Chigorin_mem_04th_1966/26318 |url-status=live }}</ref> Spassky then finished ahead of Petrosian and a super-class field at [[Santa Monica]] 1966 (the [[Piatigorsky Cup]]), with 11½/18, half a point ahead of [[Bobby Fischer]], as he overcame the American grandmaster's challenge after Fischer had scored 3½/9 in the first cycle of the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Piatigorsky-Cup_2nd_1966/26329|title=Piatigorsky-Cup 2nd 1966|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054154/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Piatigorsky-Cup_2nd_1966/26329|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky also won at [[Corus chess tournament|Beverwijk]] 1967 with 11/15,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Hoogovens_1967/26410|title=Hoogovens 1967|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055021/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Hoogovens_1967/26410|url-status=live}}</ref> one-half point ahead of [[Anatoly Lutikov]], and shared first place at Sochi 1967 on 10/15 with Krogius, [[Alexander Nikolayevich Zaitsev|Alexander Zaitsev]], [[Leonid Shamkovich]], and [[Vladimir Simagin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Sochi_1967/26450|title=Sochi 1967|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055556/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Sochi_1967/26450|url-status=live}}</ref>

As losing finalist in 1966, Spassky was automatically seeded into the next Candidates' cycle. In 1968, he faced Geller again, this time at [[Sukhumi]], and won by the same margin as in 1965 (5½–2½, +3−0=5).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf4_1968/26540|title=Candidates qf4 1968|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222847/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf4_1968/26540|url-status=live}}</ref> He next met [[Bent Larsen]] at [[Malmö]], and again won by the score of 5½–2½ after winning the first three games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf2_1968/26541|title=Candidates sf2 1968|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060943/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf2_1968/26541|url-status=live}}</ref> The final was against his Leningrad rival [[Viktor Korchnoi|Korchnoi]] at [[Kiev]]<!--See WP:KIEV-->, and Spassky triumphed (+4−1=5),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_final_1968/26641|title=Candidates final 1968|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061101/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_final_1968/26641|url-status=live}}</ref> which earned him another [[World Chess Championship 1969|match with Petrosian]]. Spassky's final tournament appearance before the match came at Palma, where he shared second place (+10−1=6) with Larsen, a point behind Korchnoi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Palma_de_Mallorca_1968/26648|title=Palma de Mallorca 1968|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060946/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Palma_de_Mallorca_1968/26648|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky's flexibility of style was the key to victory over Petrosian, by 12½–10½, with the site again being Moscow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/World_Championship_27th_1969/26812|title=World Championship 27th 1969|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060857/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/World_Championship_27th_1969/26812|url-status=live}}</ref>

===World Champion===
In Spassky's first appearance after winning the crown, he placed first at [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]], in October 1969 with 11½/15, one and one-half points clear of second.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/San_Juan_1969/26835|title=San Juan 1969|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026133416/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/San_Juan_1969/26835|url-status=live}}</ref> He then played the annual event at Palma, where he finished fifth with 10/17. While Spassky was undefeated and handed tournament victor [[Bent Larsen|Larsen]] one of his three losses, his fourteen draws kept him from seriously contending for first prize, as he came two points behind Larsen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Palma_de_Mallorca_1969/26739|title=Palma de Mallorca 1969|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026132648/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Palma_de_Mallorca_1969/26739|url-status=live}}</ref> In March–April 1970, Spassky played first board for the Soviet side in the celebrated [[USSR and Russia versus the Rest of the World|USSR vs. World event]] at [[Belgrade]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1003868 |title=USSR vs. Rest of the World 1970 |publisher=chessgames.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020182835/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1003868 |url-status=live }}</ref> where he scored +1−1=1 in the first three rounds against Larsen before [[Leonid Stein|Stein]] replaced him for the final match, as the Soviets won by the odd point, 20½–19½. He won a quadrangular event at [[Leiden]] 1970 with 7/12, a point ahead of [[Jan Hein Donner]], who was followed by Larsen and [[Mikhail Botvinnik|Botvinnik]], the latter of whom was making his final appearance in serious play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Leiden_1970/22908|title=Leiden 1970|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026133518/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Leiden_1970/22908|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky shared first at the [[IBM international chess tournament|annual IBM event]] held in [[Amsterdam]] 1970 with [[Lev Polugaevsky|Polugaevsky]] on 11½/15.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/IBM_1970/22994|title=IBM 1970|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026132112/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/IBM_1970/22994|url-status=live}}</ref> He was third at [[Gothenburg]] 1971 with 8/11,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Gothenburg_1971/23154|title=Gothenburg 1971|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026132001/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Gothenburg_1971/23154|url-status=live}}</ref> behind winners [[Vlastimil Hort]] and [[Ulf Andersson]]. He shared first with [[Hans Ree]] at the 1971 [[Canadian Open Chess Championship|Canadian Open]] in Vancouver. In November and December, Spassky finished the year by tying for sixth with [[Mikhail Tal|Tal]], scoring +4−2=11, at the Alekhine Memorial in Moscow, which was won by Stein and [[Anatoly Karpov]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Alekhine_mem_1971/23191|title=Alekhine mem 1971|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019164123/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Alekhine_mem_1971/23191|url-status=live}}</ref>

===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>

===Ex-champion (1973–1985)===
[[File:IBM-schaaktoernooi, Planinc en Spasski (rechts) met wedstrijdleiding, Bestanddeelnr 926-5874.jpg|thumb|[[Albin Planinc]] vs. Boris Spassky in 1973]]
In February–March 1973, Spassky finished equal third at Tallinn with 9/15, three points behind [[Mikhail Tal|Tal]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Tallinn_1973/23541|title=Tallinn 1973|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221531/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Tallinn_1973/23541|url-status=live}}</ref> he tied for first at [[Dortmund]] on 9½/15 (+5−1=9) with [[Hans-Joachim Hecht]] and [[Ulf Andersson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/FRG-ch_int_1973/23429|title=FRG-ch int 1973|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054645/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/FRG-ch_int_1973/23429|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky finished in fourth place at the annual IBM tournament held in [[Amsterdam]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/IBM_1973/23437|title=IBM 1973|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054413/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/IBM_1973/23437|url-status=live}}</ref> one point behind winners [[Tigran Petrosian|Petrosian]] and [[Albin Planinc]]. In September, Spassky went 10/15 to finish second to Tal in the Chigorin Memorial at Sochi by a point.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Chigorin_mem_1973/23582|title=Chigorin mem 1973|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235348/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Chigorin_mem_1973/23582|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[1973 USSR Chess Championship|41st Soviet Championship]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch41_1973/23585|title=URS-ch41 1973|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224238/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/URS-ch41_1973/23585|url-status=live}}</ref> at Moscow, Spassky scored 11½/17 to win by a full point in a field which included all the top Soviet grandmasters of the time.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

[[File:Boris Spasski 1980.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Spassky in 1980]]
In the 1974 Candidates' matches, Spassky first defeated American [[Robert Byrne (chess player)|Robert Byrne]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]], by 4½–1½ (+3−0=3);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf3_1974/23624|title=Candidates qf3 1974|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045837/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf3_1974/23624|url-status=live}}</ref> he then lost the semifinal match to [[Anatoly Karpov]] in Leningrad, despite winning the first game, (+1−4=6).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf1_1974/23627|title=Candidates sf1 1974|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221232431/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf1_1974/23627|url-status=live}}</ref> In Spassky's only tournament action of 1974, he played at Solingen, finishing with 8½/14 (+4−1=9), thus sharing third with [[Bojan Kurajica]], behind joint winners [[Lubomir Kavalek]] and [[Lev Polugaevsky|Polugaevsky]], who scored 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Solingen_1974/23730|title=Solingen 1974|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054517/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Solingen_1974/23730|url-status=live}}</ref>

During 1975, Spassky played two events, the first being the annual tournament at Tallinn, where he finished equal second with [[Fridrik Olafsson]], scoring 9½/15 (+5−1=9), one point behind [[Paul Keres|Keres]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Tallinn_1975/23915|title=Tallinn 1975|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=December 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071116/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Tallinn_1975/23915|url-status=live}}</ref> the last international event won by the latter before his sudden death in June 1975. In October–November, Spassky finished second to [[Efim Geller|Geller]] at the Alekhine Memorial in Moscow with a score of 10 points from fifteen games (+6−1=8).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Moscow_1975/23984|title=Moscow 1975|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=May 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525054317/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Moscow_1975/23984|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1976, Spassky was obliged to return to the Interzonal stage, and finished in a tie for tenth place in [[Manila]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Manila_Interzonal_1976/24112 |title=Manila Interzonal 1976 |website=365Chess.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020155754/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Manila_Interzonal_1976/24112 |url-status=live }}</ref> well short of qualifying for the Candidates matches, but was nominated to play after [[Bobby Fischer|Fischer]] declined his place. Spassky won an exhibition match with Dutch grandmaster [[Jan Timman]] at [[Amsterdam]] 1977 by 4–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Amsterdam_m_1977/24166|title=Amsterdam m 1977|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003255/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Amsterdam_m_1977/24166|url-status=live}}</ref> He triumphed in extra games in his quarterfinal Candidates' match over [[Vlastimil Hort]] at [[Reykjavík]] 1977 by 8½–7½.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf4_1977/24185 |title=Candidates qf4 1977 – 365Chess.com Tournaments |publisher=365chess.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230342/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf4_1977/24185 |url-status=live }}</ref> This match saw Spassky fall ill,<ref>{{Cite news |author=Harold C. Schonberg |date=August 14, 1972 |title=SPASSKY ILLNESS POSTPONES CHESS |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/14/archives/spassky-illness-postpones-chess-champion-following-pattern-of-other.html |access-date=June 8, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> exhaust all his available rest days while recovering; then the healthy Hort used one of his own rest days, to allow Spassky more time to recover; Spassky eventually won the match.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

Spassky won an exhibition match over [[Robert Hübner]] at [[Solingen]], 1977 by 3½–2½,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Solingen_m1_1977/24268|title=Solingen m1 1977|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222750/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Solingen_m1_1977/24268|url-status=live}}</ref> then defeated [[Lubomir Kavalek]], also at Solingen, by 4–2 in another exhibition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Solingen_m2_1977/24269|title=Solingen m2 1977|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233032/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Solingen_m2_1977/24269|url-status=live}}</ref> His next Candidates' match was against [[Lajos Portisch|Portisch]] at [[Geneva]] 1977, and Spassky won by 8½–6½, to qualify for the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf2_1977/24315|title=Candidates sf2 1977|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233319/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_sf2_1977/24315|url-status=live}}</ref> At [[Belgrade]] 1977–78, Spassky lost to [[Viktor Korchnoi|Korchnoi]], by (+4−7=7).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_final_1977/24338|title=Candidates final 1977|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233639/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_final_1977/24338|url-status=live}}</ref> In this match, Spassky fell behind 2½–7½ after losing the tenth game; however, he then won four consecutive games. After draws in games fifteen and sixteen, Korchnoi won the next two games to clinch the match by the score of 10½–7½.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

Spassky, as losing finalist, was seeded into the 1980 Candidates' matches, and faced Portisch again, with this match held in Mexico. After fourteen games, the match was 7–7, but Portisch advanced since he had won more games with the black pieces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf3_1980/21850|title=Candidates qf3 1980|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040926/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_qf3_1980/21850|url-status=live}}</ref> Spassky narrowly missed qualification from the 1982 Toluca Interzonal with 8/13, finishing half a point short, in third place behind Portisch and [[Eugenio Torre]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Toluca_Interzonal_1982/22359 |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220530/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Toluca_Interzonal_1982/22359 |url-status=live }}</ref> both of whom thus qualified. The 1985 Candidates' event was held as a round-robin tournament at [[Montpellier]], France, and Spassky was nominated as an organizer's choice. He scored 8/15 to tie for sixth place with [[Alexander Beliavsky]], behind joint winners [[Andrei Sokolov]], [[Rafael Vaganian]], and [[Artur Yusupov (chess player)|Artur Yusupov]], and once again – one-half point short of potentially qualifying via a playoff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_Tournament_1985/19766|title=Candidates Tournament 1985|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233404/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Candidates_Tournament_1985/19766|url-status=live}}</ref> This was Spassky's last appearance at the Candidates' level.{{Cn|date=February 2025}}

===International team results===
[[File:Boris Spasski 1984 Saloniki.jpg|thumb|right|Spassky at the [[26th Chess Olympiad|Thessaloniki Olympiad]], 1984]]
Spassky played five times for the USSR in Student Olympiads, winning eight medals. He scored 38½/47 (+31−1=15), for 81.91 percent. His complete results are:
* [[Lyon]] 1955, board 2, 7½/8 (+7−0=1), team gold, board gold;
* [[Reykjavík]] 1957, board 2, 7/9 (+5−0=4), team gold, board gold;
* [[Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]] 1958, board 2, 6½/9 (+4−0=5), team gold;
* [[Leningrad]] 1960, board 1, 10/12 (+9−1=2), team silver;
* [[Mariánské Lázně]] 1962, board 1, 7½/9 (+6−0=3), team gold, board gold.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wojciech Bartelski |url=http://www.olimpbase.org/playersy/59pz3v1e.html |title=Olimpbase records 1955–1960 |publisher=Olimpbase.org |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=September 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922064804/http://www.olimpbase.org/playersy/59pz3v1e.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Wojciech Bartelski |url=http://www.olimpbase.org/1962y/1962urs.html |title=Olimpbase records 1962 |publisher=Olimpbase.org |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=November 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124130429/http://www.olimpbase.org/1962y/1962urs.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spassky played twice for the USSR in the European Team Championships, winning four gold medals. He scored 8½/12 (+5−0=7), for 70.83 percent. His complete results are:
* [[Vienna]] 1957, board 5, 3½/5 (+2−0=3), team gold, board gold;
* [[Bath, Somerset]] 1973, board 1, 5/7 (+3−0=4), team gold, board gold.<ref name=Olimpbase>{{cite web |author=Wojciech Bartelski |url=http://www.olimpbase.org/ |title=Olimpbase records |publisher=Olimpbase.org |date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=March 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312021657/http://www.olimpbase.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spassky played seven times for the Soviet Olympiad team. He won thirteen medals, and scored 69/94 (+45−1=48), for 73.40 percent. His complete results are:
* [[15th Chess Olympiad|Varna 1962]], board 3, 11/14 (+8−0=6), team gold, board gold medal;
* [[16th Chess Olympiad|Tel Aviv 1964]], 2nd reserve, 10½/13 (+8−0=5), team gold, board bronze;
* [[17th Chess Olympiad|Havana 1966]], board 2, 10/15, team gold.
* [[18th Chess Olympiad|Lugano 1968]], board 2, 10/14, team gold, board bronze;
* [[19th Chess Olympiad|Siegen 1970]], board 1, 9½/12, team gold, board gold;
* [[21st Chess Olympiad|Nice 1974]], board 3, 11/15, board gold, team gold;
* [[23rd Chess Olympiad|Buenos Aires 1978]], board 1, 7/11 (+4−1=6), team silver.<ref name=Olimpbase/>

Spassky played board one in the [[Russia (USSR) vs Rest of the World|USSR vs. Rest of the World]] match at [[Belgrade]] 1970, scoring (+1−1=1) against [[Bent Larsen|Larsen]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20070806225440/http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=45 FIDE website account of Belgrade match]</ref>

Spassky then represented France in three Olympiads, on board one in each case. For [[26th Chess Olympiad|Thessaloniki 1984]], he scored 8/14 (+2−0=12).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olimpbase.org/1984/1984id01.html|title=26th Chess Olympiad: Thessaloniki 1984|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}</ref> At [[27th Chess Olympiad|Dubai 1986]], he scored 9/14 (+4−0=10).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olimpbase.org/1986/1986id01.html|title=27th Chess Olympiad: Dubai 1986|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}</ref> Finally at [[28th Chess Olympiad|Thessaloniki 1988]], he scored 7½/13 (+3−1=9).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olimpbase.org/1988/1988id01.html|title=28th Chess Olympiad: Thessaloniki 1988|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}</ref> He also played board one for France at the inaugural [[World Team Chess Championship 1985|World Team Championships, Lucerne 1985]], where he scored 5½/9 (+3−1=5).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olimpbase.org/1985t/1985id01.html|title=1st World Team Chess Championship: Lucerne 1985|accessdate=March 3, 2025}}</ref>

===Later tournament career (after 1976)===
[[File:Spassky Boris.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.95|Spassky in 1989]]
In his later years, Spassky showed a reluctance to devote himself completely to chess. In 1976, he emigrated to France with his third wife; he became a French citizen in 1978, and competed for France in the [[Chess Olympiad]]s. Spassky later lived with his wife in [[Meudon]] near Paris.<ref>{{cite web |first=Frederic |last=Friedel |url=http://en.chessbase.com/post/boris-spaky-fearing-death-flees-to-ruia |title=Boris Spassky, fearing death, 'flees' to Russia |publisher=ChessBase / Chess News |date=August 18, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404171426/http://en.chessbase.com/post/boris-spaky-fearing-death-flees-to-ruia |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Lev |last=Khariton |url=http://www.kingpinchess.net/2007/11/no-regrets-boris-spassky-at-60/ |title=No Regrets: Boris Spassky at 60 |date=November 27, 2007 |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520060458/http://www.kingpinchess.net/2007/11/no-regrets-boris-spassky-at-60/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chess.com/news/boris-spassky-at-hay-on-wye |title=Boris Spassky at Hay-on-Wye |date=May 26, 2008 |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818222709/https://www.chess.com/news/boris-spassky-at-hay-on-wye |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spassky did, however, score some notable triumphs in his later years. In his return to tournament play after the loss to Korchnoi, he tied for first at [[Bugojno]] 1978 on 10/15 with [[Anatoly Karpov|Karpov]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Bugojno_1978/24473|title=Bugojno 1978|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220135/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Bugojno_1978/24473|url-status=live}}</ref> with both players scoring +6−1=8 to finish a point ahead of [[Jan Timman|Timman]]. He was clear first at [[Montilla]]–[[Moriles]] 1978 with 6½/9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Montilla_1978/24525|title=Montilla 1978|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054248/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Montilla_1978/24525|url-status=live}}</ref> At [[Munich]] 1979, he tied for first place with 8½/13,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/FRG-ch_int_1979/24690|title=FRG-ch int 1979|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055422/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/FRG-ch_int_1979/24690|url-status=live}}</ref> with [[Yuri Balashov]], [[Ulf Andersson|Andersson]] and [[Robert Hübner]].<ref>''Grand Strategy'' Biographic appendix by Boris Spassky</ref> He shared first at [[Baden bei Wien|Baden]] in 1980, on 10½/15 with [[Alexander Beliavsky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Baden_1980/21703|title=Baden 1980|website=365Chess.com|access-date=October 20, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053422/http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Baden_1980/21703|url-status=live}}</ref> He won his preliminary group at [[Hamburg]] 1982 with 5½/6, but lost the final playoff match to Anatoly Karpov in extra games.<ref>''Learn From Your Defeats'', by Anatoly Karpov, [[Batsford]] 1985)</ref> His best result during this period was clear first at [[Linares chess tournament|Linares]] 1983 with 6½/10,<ref>{{cite web |title = Linares 1983 |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1012201 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 11, 2016 |archive-date = December 20, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220152239/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1012201 |url-status = live }}</ref> ahead of Karpov and [[Ulf Andersson]], who shared second. At London Lloyds' Bank Open 1984, he tied for first with [[John Nunn]] and [[Murray Chandler]], on 7/9. He won at [[Reykjavík]] 1985. At [[Brussels]] 1985, he placed second with 10½/13 behind Korchnoi. At [[Reggio Emilia chess tournament|Reggio Emilia]] 1986, he tied for 2nd–5th places with 6/11 behind [[Zoltán Ribli]]. He swept [[Fernand Gobet]] 4–0 in a match at [[Fribourg]] 1987.<ref>{{cite web |title = Chess games between Boris Spassky and Fernand Gobet in 1987 (no page title) |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?yearcomp=exactly&year=1987&pid=21136&pid2=15756 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 11, 2016 |archive-date = December 20, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220155135/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?yearcomp=exactly&year=1987&pid=21136&pid2=15756 |url-status = live }}</ref> He finished equal first at the Plaza tournament in the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts at Wellington in 1988, with Chandler and [[Eduard Gufeld]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Plaza (1998) |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=79319 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 11, 2016 |archive-date = January 24, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170124151119/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=79319 |url-status = live }}</ref> Spassky's [[Elo rating system|Elo rating]] was in the world top ten continually throughout the early 1980s<ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: January 1982 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198201e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = November 9, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161109194126/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198201e.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: July 1982 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198207e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = February 10, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170210050557/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198207e.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: January 1983 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198301e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = February 10, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170210050602/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198301e.html |url-status = live }}</ref> until it dropped out in 1983,<ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: July 1983 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198307e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = February 10, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170210050607/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198307e.html |url-status = live }}</ref> and intermittently throughout the mid 1980s<ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: January 1986 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198601e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = January 4, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170104051034/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198601e.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: July 1986 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198607e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = December 31, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191231144011/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198607e.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: January 1987 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198701e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = January 4, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170104051131/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198701e.html |url-status = live }}</ref> until it dropped out for the final time in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |title = FIDE Rating List :: July 1987 |url = http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198707e.html |publisher = OlimpBase (original data from FIDE) |access-date = December 9, 2016 |archive-date = January 4, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170104045629/http://www.olimpbase.org/Elo/Elo198707e.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

However, Spassky's performances in the World Cup events of 1988 and 1989 showed that he could by this stage finish no higher than the middle of the pack against elite fields. He participated in three of the six events of the World Cup. At [[Belfort]], he scored 8/15 for a joint 4th–7th place, as [[Garry Kasparov]] won.<ref>{{cite web |title = Belfort World Cup 1988 |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1015937 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 14, 2016 |archive-date = December 20, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220181843/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1015937 |url-status = live }}</ref> At [[Reykjavík]], he scored 7/17 for a joint 15th–16th place, with Kasparov again winning.<ref>{{cite web |title = Reykjavik World Cup 1988 |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1015916 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 14, 2016 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232235/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1015916 |url-status = live }}</ref> Finally, at [[Barcelona]], Spassky scored 7½/16 for a tied 8th–12th place, as Kasparov shared first with [[Ljubomir Ljubojević]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Barcelona World Cup 1989 |url = http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1015954 |publisher = chessgames.com |access-date = December 14, 2016 |archive-date = September 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232241/http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1015954 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Spassky played in the 1990 [[French Chess Championship|French Championship]] at [[Angers]], placing fourth with 10½/15, as [[Marc Santo-Roman]] won.<ref>{{cite web |title = Angers 1990 – 65ème championnat de France |url = http://heritageechecsfra.free.fr/1990.htm |publisher = Heritage des Echecs Francais |access-date = December 14, 2016 |archive-date = May 2, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170502125413/http://heritageechecsfra.free.fr/1990.htm |url-status = live }}</ref> At [[Salamanca]] 1991, he placed 2nd with 7½/11 behind winner [[Evgeny Vladimirov]]. Then in the 1991 French Championship at [[Montpellier]], he scored 9½/15 for a tied 4th–5th place, as Santo-Roman won again.<ref>{{cite web |title = Montpellier 1991 – 66ème championnat de France |url = http://heritageechecsfra.free.fr/1991.htm |publisher = Heritage des Echecs Francais |access-date = December 14, 2016 |archive-date = May 2, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170502125418/http://heritageechecsfra.free.fr/1991.htm |url-status = live }}</ref>

In 1992, Bobby Fischer, after a twenty-year hiatus from chess, re-emerged to arrange a "Revenge Match of the 20th century" against Spassky in [[Montenegro]] and [[Belgrade]]; this was a [[Fischer–Spassky (1992 match)|rematch of the 1972 World Championship]]. At the time, Spassky was rated 106th in the [[Fédération Internationale des Échecs|FIDE]] rankings, and Fischer did not appear on the list at all, owing to his inactivity. Spassky lost the match with a score of +5−10=15, earning US$1.65 million for losing the match.<ref>{{cite news |title = Fischer Beats Spassky and Carves a New Niche for Himself in Chess |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/06/arts/fischer-beats-spassky-and-carves-a-new-niche-for-himself-in-chess.html |date = November 6, 1992 |newspaper = New York Times |access-date = November 1, 2018 |archive-date = January 16, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180116051847/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/06/arts/fischer-beats-spassky-and-carves-a-new-niche-for-himself-in-chess.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Spassky then played the 16-year-old prodigy [[Judit Polgár]] in a 1993 match in [[Budapest]], losing narrowly by 4½–5½.<ref>[https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=83258 Polgar – Spassky (1993)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208034732/https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?tid=83258 |date=February 8, 2021 }}, [[Chessgames.com]]</ref>

Spassky continued to play occasional events through much of the 1990s, such as the Veterans vs. Women match in Prague, 1995.<ref>{{cite web |title = chess |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/chess-1593819.html |publisher = The Independent |website = independent.co.uk |date = July 28, 1995 |access-date = August 24, 2017 |archive-date = April 3, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190403165318/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/chess-1593819.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

==Later years and death==
[[File:Boris Spasski 2.jpg|thumb|Spassky in France in 2009]]
On October 1, 2006, Spassky suffered a [[minor stroke]] during a chess lecture in San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-10-09 |title=Boris Spassky recovering from minor stroke |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/boris-spaky-recovering-from-minor-stroke/3 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Chess News |language=en}}</ref> In his first major post-stroke play, he drew a six-game [[rapid chess|rapid]] match with Hungarian Grandmaster [[Lajos Portisch]] in April 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-04-20 |title=Lajos Portisch vs Boris Spassky: 3-3 |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/lajos-portisch-vs-boris-spaky-3-3 |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Chess News |language=en}}</ref>

On March 27, 2010, at 73 years old, he became the oldest surviving former World Chess Champion following the death of [[Vasily Smyslov]].<ref>{{cite web |title = Vasily Smyslov |url = https://chess24.com/en/read/players/vasily-smyslov |publisher = Chess24 |access-date = December 11, 2016 |archive-date = December 20, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220103201/https://chess24.com/en/read/players/vasily-smyslov |url-status = live }}</ref>

On September 23, 2010, [[ChessBase]] reported that Spassky had suffered a more serious stroke that had left him paralysed on his left side.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6692 |title=Chess News – Boris Spassky in grave condition |date=September 23, 2010 |publisher=ChessBase.com |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=November 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118182803/http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6692 |url-status=live }}</ref> After that he returned to France for a long rehabilitation programme.<ref>{{cite web |author=mishanp on |url=http://www.chessintranslation.com/2010/11/bits-and-pieces-1/ |title=Bits and Pieces #1 |publisher=Chessintranslation.com |date=November 26, 2010 |access-date=November 12, 2011 |archive-date=November 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129232255/http://www.chessintranslation.com/2010/11/bits-and-pieces-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On August 16, 2012, Spassky left France to return to Russia under disputed circumstances<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8417 |title=Boris Spassky, fearing death, 'flees' to Russia |publisher=ChessBase.com |date=August 18, 2012 |access-date=August 19, 2012 |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822114428/http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8417 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8429 |title=Spassky's sister: help save my brother! |publisher=ChessBase.com |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |archive-date=August 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826003617/http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8429 |url-status=live }}</ref> and took up residence in an apartment in Moscow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.chessbase.com/post/spaky-surfaces-on-ruia-1tv-s-tonight-show |title=Spassky surfaces – on Russia 1TV's Tonight Show |publisher=ChessBase / Chess News |date=January 30, 2013 |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604104236/http://en.chessbase.com/post/spaky-surfaces-on-ruia-1tv-s-tonight-show |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Colin |last=McGourty |url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/boris-spassky-i-m-waging-a-war |title=Boris Spassky: "I'm waging a war" |publisher=Chess24 |date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408104934/https://chess24.com/en/read/news/boris-spassky-i-m-waging-a-war |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 25, 2016, he made a public speech at the opening of the [[Tal Memorial]] tournament. He said he had "the very brightest memories" of Mikhail Tal and told an anecdote from the [[15th Chess Olympiad]] about Soviet analysis of an adjourned game between Fischer and Botvinnik. He was described by Chess24 as being 'sprightly'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spassky stars as Mamedyarov crushes Tal blitz |url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/spassky-stars-as-mamedyarov-crushes-tal-blitz |publisher=Chess24 |first=Colin |last=McGourty |access-date=December 11, 2016 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220103249/https://chess24.com/en/read/news/spassky-stars-as-mamedyarov-crushes-tal-blitz |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spassky died in Moscow on February 27, 2025, at the age of 88.<ref name="nytdeath">{{Cite web |last=McClain |first=Dylan Loeb |date=27 February 2025 |title=Boris Spassky, Chess Champion Who Lost 'Match of the Century,' Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/world/europe/boris-spassky-dead.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250228023530/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/world/europe/boris-spassky-dead.html |archive-date=28 February 2025 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Leonard|last=Barden|author-link=Leonard Barden|date=28 February 2025|title=Boris Spassky obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/28/boris-spassky-obituary|website=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250228172117/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/28/boris-spassky-obituary|archive-date=28 February 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:Boris Spasski 3-2.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Spassky, 2009]]
{{algebraic notation|pos=section}}
Spassky's best years were as a youthful prodigy in the mid-1950s, and in the mid- to late 1960s. He applauded Fischer in Game 6 of their 1972 match,<ref>{{cite book |last=Gligorić |first=Svetozar |author-link=Svetozar Gligorić |title=Fischer vs. Spassky &bull; The Chess Match of the Century |page=55 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |year=1972 |isbn=978-0-671-21397-8}}</ref> and defended Fischer when the latter was detained near [[Narita Airport]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://en.chessbase.com/post/spaky-to-bush-arrest-me- |title= Spassky to Bush: Arrest me! |publisher= | website= chessbase.com |date= August 10, 2004 |access-date= October 7, 2015 |quote= I would not like to defend or justify Bobby Fischer. He is what he is. I am asking only for one thing. For mercy, charity. If for some reason it is impossible, I would like to ask you the following: Please correct the mistake of President François Mitterrand in 1992. Bobby and myself committed the same crime. Put sanctions against me also. Arrest me. And put me in the same cell with Bobby Fischer. And give us a chess set. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150928045413/http://en.chessbase.com/post/spaky-to-bush-arrest-me- |archive-date= September 28, 2015 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Spassky has been described by many as a universal player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crestbook.com/en/node/1783 |title=KC-Review of 2012 with Sergey Shipov |publisher= | website= crestbook.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020183935/http://crestbook.com/en/node/1783 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chessintranslation.com/2012/05/anands-whychess-interview/ |title=Anand's WhyChess interview |publisher= | website= chessintranslation.com |date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128140311/http://www.chessintranslation.com/2012/05/anands-whychess-interview/ |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kramnik.com/eng/interviews/getinterview.aspx?id=61 |title=The most important interviews by GM Vladimir Kramnik, World Chess Champion 2000–2007 |publisher= | website= kramnik.com |access-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512052013/http://www.kramnik.com/eng/interviews/getinterview.aspx?id=61 |archive-date=May 12, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Never a true [[chess opening|openings]] expert, at least when compared to contemporaries such as Geller and Fischer, he excelled in the [[Chess middlegame|middlegame]] and in [[Chess tactics|tactics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Борис Спасский |trans-title=Boris Spassky |url=https://chesspro.ru/statistic/spassky.shtml |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=ChessPro |language=ru}}</ref>

{{bq|text=He was not only one of the greatest players of the Soviet era and the world, but also a true gentleman. His contributions to chess will never be forgotten.|author=Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE president<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-28 |title=Boris Spassky: 1937–2025 |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/boris-spassky-1937-2025 |access-date=2025-02-28 |website= chessbase.com |language=en}}</ref>}}

Spassky succeeded with a wide variety of openings, including the [[King's Gambit]], 1.e4 e5 2.f4, an aggressive and risky line rarely seen at the top level.<ref name=":1" /> The chess game between "Kronsteen" and "McAdams" in the early part of the [[James Bond]] movie ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia With Love]]'' is based on a game in that opening played between Spassky and [[David Bronstein]] in 1960 in which Spassky ("Kronsteen") was victorious.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=1882 |title=Spassky–Bronstein |publisher=| website = chessbase.com |date=August 29, 2004 |access-date=November 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007073815/http://www.chessbase.com/newsprint.asp?newsid=1882 |archive-date=October 7, 2012 }}</ref>

His contributions to opening theory extend to reviving the [[Marshall Attack]] for Black in the [[Ruy Lopez]] (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5),<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Pavlovic |first=Milos |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1198581727 |title=The modernized Marshall attack |date=2020 |others=Romain Edouard |isbn=978-94-92510-85-3 |edition= |location=Landegem, Belgium |oclc=1198581727}}</ref> developing the Leningrad Variation for White in the [[Nimzo-Indian Defence]] (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith (BryanSmith) |first=Bryan |date=2015-10-09 |title=Boris Spassky And The Leningrad Variation |url=https://www.chess.com/article/view/boris-spassky-and-the-leningrad-variation-of-the-nimzo-indian |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref> the Spassky Variation on the Black side of the Nimzo-Indian, and the Closed Variation of the [[Sicilian Defence]] for White (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3).{{Cn|date=March 2025}} A variation of the B19 Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5) also bears his name,<ref>{{Cite web |title=B19: Caro-Kann, classical, Spassky variation |url=https://www.365chess.com/eco/B19_Caro-Kann_classical_Spassky_variation |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=365Chess}}</ref> as does a rare line in the [[King's Indian Attack]] (1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b5[[Chess annotation symbols|!?]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=A05: Reti, King's Indian attack, Spassky's variation |url=https://www.365chess.com/eco/A05_Reti_King's_Indian_attack_Spassky's_variation |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=365Chess}}</ref>

Spassky was played by [[Liev Schreiber]] in the 2014 film ''[[Pawn Sacrifice]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rich |first1=Katey |title=Watch a Russian-Speaking Liev Schreiber Throw Down the Chess Gauntlet |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/09/pawn-sacrifice-liev-schreiber-clip?srsltid=AfmBOoqhtn22KHgnZw4fiWMrFLwYqJbGv5rAog0mqw7teOzrazPiAZr7 |access-date=28 February 2025 |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=September 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pawn Sacrifice |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pawn_sacrifice#cast-and-crew |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life== 
Boris was married three times. His first wife (1959–1961) was Nadezda Konstantinovna Latyntceva. Their daughter was born in 1960. His second wife was Larisa Zakharovna Solovyova. She gave birth to a son in 1967. His third marriage, in 1975 in France, was to Marina Yurievna Shcherbachova, granddaughter of the Russian war general and a [[White movement]] activist [[Dmitry Shcherbachev]]. Their son was born in 1980.<ref>{{cite web| authorlink= :ru:Гик, Евгений Яковлевич| author= Evgeni Gik| url= http://ria.ru/other_sport/20120130/552417067.html |title= Boris Spassky: The Chess King With Very Independent Views| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160604103318/http://ria.ru/other_sport/20120130/552417067.html |archivedate=June 4, 2016 | publisher= [[RIA Novosti]]| date= January 30, 2012| language= ru| access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.chess.com/blog/batgirl/who-would-marry-a-chess-master| title= Who Would Marry a Chess Master?| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20160815200129/https://www.chess.com/blog/batgirl/who-would-marry-a-chess-master |archivedate= August 15, 2016 |website= [[Chess.com]]| publisher= | date= January 20, 2013| access-date= }}</ref>

His younger sister Iraida Spasskaya (born November 6, 1944) is a four-time champion of the Soviet Union in [[Russian draughts]] and the world vice-champion in [[international draughts]] (1974).<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrei Napreenkov|url=http://www.shashki.com/module-subjects-printpage-pageid-173-scope-all.html|title=Iraida Spasskaya Is Having a Birthday|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602205442/http://www.shashki.com/module-subjects-printpage-pageid-173-scope-all.html |archive-date=June 2, 2016|website=shashki.com|date=2004|lang=Russian}}</ref>

In an interview to a Western journalist Spassky talked about his psychological approach to chess:
{{cquote|I prefer to have good relations with my opponent. My chess suffers if I have to play a man I consider unfriendly. When I am in form my style is a little bit stubborn, almost brutal. Sometimes I feel a great spirit of fight which drives me on. But deep down I lack faith in myself. I have often found that I have caught the basic idea of a position, the correct plan, but my great weakness is that I fail to follow the logical pattern through from beginning to end.}}

Bobby Fischer once wrote that "Spassky sits at the board with the same dead expression whether he's mating or being mated. He can blunder away a piece and you are never sure whether it's a blunder or a fantastically deep sacrifice."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Evans |first1=Larry|author-link1=Larry Evans (chess grandmaster)|last2=Smith|first2=Ken |author-link2=Ken Smith (chess)|title=Chess World Championship 1972: Fischer vs. Spassky|publisher= [[Simon & Schuster]]|year=1973 |isbn=0-671-21546-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/chessworldchampi00evan|page=19}}</ref>

===Politics and religion===
During his meeting with fans in [[Kaliningrad]] in 2005 Spassky stated about the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union#Consequences|economic and social decline of Russia]] in the 1990s: "If only I knew what was going to happen to our country, I would've joined the Communist Party."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.kp.ru/daily/23444/264740|title=Yes, My Wife Is French...|magazine=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928121743/http://www.kp.ru/daily/23444/264740 |archive-date=September 28, 2012|date=January 21, 2005|lang=Russian}}</ref>

In 2005 Spassky signed the [[Letter of 5000]] addressed to the Prosecutor General of Russia, along with [[Igor Shafarevich]], [[Vyacheslav Klykov]], [[Vasily Belov]] and other activists. The petition suggested that all religious and national Jewish organizations that functioned on the territory of Russia according to the [[Shulchan Aruch]] codes should be shut down for extremism, warning about a "hidden campaign of genocide against the Russian people and their traditional society and values".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/1487546/Outrage-in-Russia-as-Spassky-puts-name-to-rabidly-anti-Semitic-petition.html|title=Outrage in Russia as Spassky puts name to rabidly anti-Semitic petition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016130010/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/1487546/Outrage-in-Russia-as-Spassky-puts-name-to-rabidly-anti-Semitic-petition.html |archive-date=October 16, 2018|author=Bojan Pancevski|date=April 10, 2005}}</ref> He later tried to distance himself from the petition, saying that signing the petition was a mistake.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boris Spassky, maybe-Jewish chess champ who lost 'match of the century' to Fischer, dies at 88 |url=https://www.jns.org/boris-spassky-maybe-jewish-chess-champ-who-lost-match-of-the-century-to-fischer-dies-at-88/ |work=Jewish News Syndicate |date=February 27, 2025}}</ref>

In 2006, Spassky described himself as an [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]], a [[monarchism|monarchist]] and a [[Russian nationalism|Russian nationalist]].

{{Verse translation
|head1=Original (russian)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://magmetall.ru/contribution/2513.htm|title=Boris Spassky, The Tenth World Chess Champion. A Legendary Champion Paid a Visit to The Legendary Magnitka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610123905/http://magmetall.ru/contribution/2513.htm |archive-date=2016-06-10|author=Olga Platonova|magazine=[[:ru:Магнитогорский металл|Magnitogorsky Metall]] |date=2006-01-21|lang=Russian}}</ref> |lang1=ru
| … я – убежденный монархист, и в советские годы им оставался и никогда этого не скрывал. Считаю, что величие России связано с деятельностью национальных лидеров, какими были наши цари. …

… А по своим убеждениям я – русский националист, и ничего тут страшного нет, не бойтесь. Утверждают, что русский националист – это большая бяка, обязательно антисемит, расист, национал-большевик. Нет – для националиста существуют Бог и уважающие друг друга нации. …

… Что радует в современной России – церкви оживают …
|head2=English (translation)|lang2=en
| I'm a convinced monarchist, I remained a monarchist during the Soviet years and never tried to hide that. I believe that the greatness of Russia is connected to the activity of the national leaders represented by our tsars.

As for my views—I'm a Russian nationalist, and there's nothing scary about it, don't be afraid. Some say that Russian nationalist is a nasty thing, most definitely an antisemite, a racist, a national-Bolshevik. No; for a nationalist God exists and nations that respect each other.

What pleases me in modern Russia is that the churches are coming back to life.}}

==Notable games==
{{citations needed section|date=February 2025}}
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1034110 Boris Spassky vs. David Bronstein, USSR championship, 1960, King's Gambit Accepted, Modern Defence (C36), 1–0] Spassky defeats the former world championship contender with a spectacular rook sacrifice. The game was used, with some minor adjustments, in the opening scene of the James Bond film ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]''.<ref name=":0" />
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044620 Boris Spassky vs. Bobby Fischer, Santa Monica 1966, Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation (D87), 1–0] Fischer seems to {{chessgloss|equalise}} in a sharp game, but he makes a small mistake and Spassky capitalises.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1049394 Boris Spassky vs. Efim Geller, Sukhumi Candidates' match 1968, game 6, Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation (B25), 1–0] One of three wins by Spassky over Geller in this match using the same variation, which is one of Spassky's favourites.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1106864 Boris Spassky vs. Tigran Petrosian, World Championship match, Moscow 1969, game 19, Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation (B94), 1–0] Aggressive style of play and combinations show Spassky at his heights.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1128831 Bent Larsen vs. Boris Spassky, Belgrade 1970 (match USSR vs. Rest of the World), Nimzo-Larsen Attack, Modern Variation (A01), 0–1] Another short win over a noted grandmaster.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044698 Boris Spassky vs. Bobby Fischer, Siegen Olympiad 1970, Grunfeld Defence, Exchange Variation (D87), 1–0] Fischer tries the Grunfeld again against Spassky, and the game is remarkably similar to their 1966 encounter.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044724 Boris Spassky vs. Bobby Fischer, World Championship match, Reykjavík 1972, game 11, Sicilian Defense, Najdorf, Poisoned Pawn Variation (B97), 1–0] Fischer's only loss in his favourite Poisoned Pawn Variation.
* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067809 Anatoly Karpov vs. Boris Spassky, Candidates' match, Leningrad 1974, game 1, Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation (B83), 0–1] Spassky lost the match, but he started strongly with this win.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Bibliography'''
* {{cite book|last=Di Felice|first=Gino|title=Chess Results, 1956–1960: A Comprehensive Record With 1,390 Tournament Crosstables and 142 Match Scores, With Sources|year=2010|publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-786-44803-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Schonberg|first=Harold C.|author-link=Harold C. Schonberg|title=Grandmasters of Chess|url=https://archive.org/details/grandmastersofch00haro|url-access=registration|year=1973|publisher=J.B. Lippincott|isbn=0-397-01004-4}}

==Further reading==
* ''Spassky's Best Games'' by Bernard Cafferty, Batsford, 1969.
* ''World chess champions'' by [[Edward G. Winter]], editor. 1981 {{ISBN|0-08-024117-4}}
* {{Cite book |author-link=Bernard Cafferty |first=Bernard |last=Cafferty |year=1972 |title=Boris Spassky Master of Tactics. Spassky's 100 Best Games 1949–1972 |location=London |publisher=B. T. Batsford |isbn=978-0-7134-2409-6}}
* {{Cite book |author-link=Irving Chernev |first=Irving |last=Chernev |year=1995 |title=Twelve Great Chess Players and Their Best Games |location=New York |publisher=Dover |isbn=0-486-28674-6 |pages=43–57 }}
* ''No Regrets: Fischer–Spassky'' by Yasser Seirawan; International Chess Enterprises; March 1997. {{ISBN|1-879479-08-7}}
* ''Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How the Soviets Lost the Most Extraordinary Chess Match of All Time'' by David Edmonds and John Eidinow; Ecco, 2004.
* [[Garry Kasparov]] (2004). ''My Great Predecessors, part III''. [[Everyman Chess]]. {{ISBN|1-85744-371-3}}
* {{cite book
 | author2=Chetverik, Maxim
 | author=Raetsky, Alexander
 | title=Boris Spassky: Master of Initiative
 | year=2006
 | publisher=[[Everyman Chess]]
 | isbn=1-85744-425-6}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Boris Spassky}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{s-start}}
* {{365Chess.com player|Boris_V_Spassky}}
* {{Chessgames player|21136}}
* {{OlimpBase player|59pz3v1e}}
* [http://www.gmsquare.com/interviews/spassky.html Interview with Boris Spassky] at GrandMaster Square
* [http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6692 Chessbase report of Spassky's stroke]
* [http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/spassky.html "Boris Spassky" by Edward Winter]
* {{imdb name|3661365}}
* {{discogs artist|Boris Spassky}}

{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Tigran Petrosian]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[World chess champion|World Chess Champion]]|years= 1969–1972}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Bobby Fischer]]}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Tigran Petrosian]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[List of youngest grandmasters|Youngest chess grandmaster ever]]|years= 1955–1958}}
{{s-aft|after= [[Bobby Fischer]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{World Chess Championships|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spassky, Boris}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Chess players from Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category:Saint Petersburg State University alumni]]
[[Category:Chess Grandmasters]]
[[Category:Chess Olympiad competitors]]
[[Category:Chess theoreticians]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodox Christians from Russia]]
[[Category:French chess players]]
[[Category:Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Badge of Honour]]
[[Category:Russian chess players]]
[[Category:Russian monarchists]]
[[Category:Russian nationalists]]
[[Category:Soviet chess players]]
[[Category:Soviet emigrants to France]]
[[Category:World chess champions]]
[[Category:World Junior Chess Champions]]