Spassky was an amazing attacker -- his game against Larsen from the 1970 USSR vs. The World match was one of the best attacking games ever.
SchuBomb, you're right - except that Spassky had beaten Fischer three times before the 1972 match, not twice. Incidentally, in Alexander's book on the match he makes the point that Spassky's ELO rating went up as a result of the match, not down. The ratings predicted that Spassky wouldn't do as well as he did.
I thought it was either two or three, which is why I said "a couple", which I know means two, but a little less definitely :)
And yes, also Fischer's Elo rating went down after the match against Spassky.
wow spassky used perfect attack and good pawn promotion.
In his book "The Golden Dozen," Irving Chernev rates Spassky the 9th greatest chessplayer of all time (though this was before Karpov and Kasparov). And don't forget that in that 1972 championship cycle of matches, Spassky was the only one to win even a single game against Fischer. Even the great Petrosian could not do it. Yet Spassky won several.
I have always admired Spassky for being what a great champion should be: urbane, cosmopolitan, showing sportsmanship, and knowing how to live as well as being a great player. Spassky, compared to Fischer, came out the real winner. Just look at the results.
Petrosian won game 2, ending the 20 game grandmaster winning streak. I believe the next three games were draws, then Fischer decided enough was enough and won the rest of them.
Spassky was a very good chess player - not flashy, just darn good.
was spassky good? a world champion means being the world's very best. isn't that enough? what is good anyway?
I'd like to know if he is considered to have reached his peak? I wondered if there was more in the tank yet to come, were it not for the Fischer match, and if he was more inclined to knuckle down and work harder at his chess.
Spassky was a stud. Unfortunately, he's best known for losing to Fischer....but anyone in that day and age would've gotten their butt kicked by Bobby.
He was a gutsy player....willing to play the King's Gambit. He also added a lot to the theory behind the closed Sicilian.
Very true!
He was the tenth World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1969 to 1972.
Spassky won the Soviet Chess Championship twice outright (1961, 1973), and twice more lost in playoffs (1956, 1963), after tying for first during the event proper. He was a World Chess Championship Candidate on seven occasions (1956, 1965, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1980, and 1985).
ADK
Herceg Novi Blitz Tournament (5-Minute Chess)
Thank you all for the kind remarks.
Notice the date: Sept. 31, 1975. Does that strike anyone else as odd?
It was a leap month.
"Was Spassky good?"
For starters, it is not "was" but "is". Secondly, it is not "good" but "great". Thirdly, it is not Spassky but Kasparov.
And finally, the answer is YES.
??? so the question now is...is kasparov great? no he's retired.
Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.