Happy Birthday, Boris Spassky!
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 8:07PM The former world champion is 75 years old today (January 30). For the past couple of decades he has primarily been an elder statesman and goodwill ambassador of the game, but for many years he was a tremendous player, often cited as a model of universality in his style. In his day he was the youngest grandmaster ever, won the World Junior championship, became a Candidate as a teenager (and back then the latter was not the result of the former), won every event in sight, played three world championship matches and all while being liked by everyone (except Viktor Korchnoi, for a time).
Among his many gifts, industry doesn't seem to have been one of them, and unfortunately for chess fans and for his reputation with generations that didn't see him play, he hasn't written a chess autobiography. (And it doesn't seem likely, given his current health, that it will ever happen.) It's a real pity that his best games are so unfamiliar to most of us, so do yourself a favor. Celebrate his birthday by looking up some of his best games online - they're worth seeing!
Boris Spassky
Reader Comments (7)
Let's have a discussion of some of the great Spassky games!
Which Spassky games does everyone recommend we study?
I'm fond of Larsen-Spassky 1970 and Spassky-Bronstein 1960.
I can recommend Bernard Cafferty's collection of Spassky games. I loved his comment on a game against Kupreichik (I think). I paraphrase: "Things didn't go very well as long I tried to predict and anticipate his moves. So I decided just to play my own moves." Next comment on a quite strong move of his: "Just my own move."
I'll mention that some of his games played on the show The Master Game are upon youtube...here is a nice one...http://www.youtube.com/user/Sirb0b1#p/c/8E017E407C4AAA52/5/aNf5IqsjN3E
Happy Birthday Boris - The oldest living Word Chess Champion!
I feel a Boris Birthday tribute video coming on...
One of my very favorite players. On those occasions I have seen him as a guest analyst he has out shined everyone else. His approach to chess and life is endearing. The interview you brought our attention to in a later post highlights his engaging personality. Younger players may on remember him as a over the hill player content with a draw. But, in his day he was remarkable. Just think of having to beat Keres, Geller and Tal in consecutive matches just to get a shot at the world championship.
How about Averbakh - Spassky, Leningrad 1956? Tim Krabbe named Spassky's 16 ... Nc6 the most fantastic move he has ever seen, even better than Marshall's 23 ... Qg3 in Levitzky - Marshall, Breslau 1912 (Krabbe's #3) and Shirov's 47 ... Bh3 in Topalov - Shirov, Linares 1998 (Krabbe's #2).
You can see it, with a comment from Spassky, here. About the move Mark Taimanov said, "I would rather resign the game than to make such a move..."
[DM: I think Krabbe's judgment there is mistaken, but it's an amazing move for its sheer chutzpah.]
Well, he does call it fantastic, as opposed to good! I wouldn't go so far as Taimanov in condemning it, but it isn't a move one WANTS to have to make, as opposed to most of the moves Krabbe highlights.