Boris Spassky:  A Champion, and a Gentleman

This page is a tribute to one of my all time favorite players, Boris Spassky.  Vital stats are:

Much has been written about the Match with Fischer in 1972, but I would like to honor Boris Spassky with this tribute. Often better known for his defeat by Fischer, the chess world has not done justice to Boris. Here's why. Sportsmanship cannot and should not be confused with gamesmanship. In the 1972 match with Fischer, before the match even began there was a lot of issues that have been well documented. Fischer arguing over money, playing conditions, not showing up for the drawing for colors....all these were a great insult to the game of chess itself, and to one of its greatest gentleman, Boris Spassky.

Above it all, I think Boris recognized the importance of this match for the game
of chess itself, and he genuinely wanted to play Fischer whom he envied for his passion for the game.  He put up with a lot of undignified behavior by Fischer, which culminated in him allowing Game 3 to be played in a private room when he had no moral or legal obligation to do so.  Had Boris simply not allowed game 3 to be played on Fischer's terms, and simply requested the game be played under the rules agreed upon, I doubt another game would have ever been played. We the chess playing public, would have been denied the match we were all waiting to see. The immovable object vs. the irresistible force. I think initially too, that since the countries were at the height of tensions during the Cold War, the USSR also wanted Boris to crush Fischer, which would have put a stamp on their claim to intellectual superiority.

In fact, I argue that if Spassky did not have such a dominating personal score
versus Fischer prior to the match, the Russian contingent would have forced Spassky
to pack up and go home. They had no face to lose, Spassky was the champion and it
should be the challenger that shows grace and respect to face the champion. Can 
you imagine if their personal score was even? How about if Fischer had a slight 
plus score? Even if game 2 had been played (a stretch), sorry folks....game 3
would have had to have been played on the stage and be filmed, Fischer would have
forfeited that game, and never played another game again.

The whole premise for the 1992 match, was Fischer granting Spassky the "Return" match. Here I tip my hat to Bobby, since he allowed Spassky to be a part of the biggest payday in chess history. A nice "Thank You", for the non-sence he had Spassky endure in 1972. Had Fischer defaulted in 1972, the match in 1992 does not exist.  Pundits may argue that the 1992 match was not that great. I disagree. Technically it may have had it's blunders in games, but what match before or since did not have the same? Anand played some awful moves in 1995 against Kasparov.  Kasparov played some awful moves against Deep Blue and against Kramnik. The people mostly critical of the play, were also the people who would have loved to play Fischer next, because it would have been a HUGE payday. I liked the match. It was full of fighting chess, only a few short draws, and 50% of the games were decisive.  That's a good match!  Let's hope future championship matches (in whatever form) have the same fighting spirit.

In closing, I would like to send out a big "THANK YOU" to Boris Spassky, for displaying the kind of sportsmanship and grace, that I would like my children to display in the face of adversity. Because of him, in my opinion, Chess survived the post Fischer era and not because Boris lost. Boris Spassky played the toughest match in World Championship history, and came out on the short end of the score ONLY. Boris helped define what the world champion means to me. The best. Not only on the board, but also in displaying the grace and dignity it takes to be the best.

I hope you read this someday Boris. And if you have any thoughts or corrections on this topic I will post any reply in it's entirety.

Sincerely,

One of your biggest fans

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Last modified: December 04, 2007