Those who don't know him don't give Spassky his due, and sometimes those who ought to know better don't fully appreciate him too. For those who were around for the 1972 Fischer-Spassky match this usually isn't an issue; We remember Spassky as the guy that Fischer had never beaten, even in recent games, and who had a big plus score on him. Fischer fans worried if this Russian was just the right combination of powerful player and astute otb-psychologist, and if Fischer really was going to be able to deal with him.

So that's it. For some Spassky is a forgotten man while for others (like me) he stood very, very tall.

Stockman's very wonderful chessbase link shows Boris Spassy with his third and current wife Marina.

Below is a related picture I'm fairly sure I got from Jerzy Gizycki's History of Chess.

Notice the date: Sept. 31, 1975. Does that strike anyone else as odd?

like you said, spassky wasn't obsessive.  he prefered a laid back approach.  but hey, he was world champion.  he can't have been that bad.

Spassky was The Big Lebowski of his era.

I think this is the first Spassky topic I've seen. The guy was obviously great, and I welcome his more laid-back attitude to life - chess is seen far too much as a top-button done up, thick glasses and trousers up to your neck kind of game. Also, to whoever was talking about Leffe; I couldn't agree more, especially the helle variety.

He was a real class act on top of being one of the greatest players.  He applauded Fischer's performace (his own defeat) after game 6 in '72?  How many players have such a pure love of the game?

Maybe in the Soviet Union, September had 31 days.

Fischer wasn't the only one to take on the Soviet machine, it seems, and Boris Vasilievich did it from the inside. This is another reason why those of us who have philosophical differences with the Soviet Union can admire him

Hmm. A man who uses Gabriel Conroy as his psuedonym and who like Leffe beer. You are my soul brother.

 After their divorce, Boris described himself and Larisa as "bishops of opposite colors." A somehow pleasingly melancholic take on the bishops.

 Yes, this incident was very moving and a testament to Spassky also being one of the greatest "gentlemen" to ever play the game. I believe even Bobby was greatly moved by Spassky's gesture. Was there any other great player who was also such a gentleman/sportsman ?  Maybe Keres ? Any other candidates ?

Vlastimil Hort is not quite in Spassky's league as a player, but I think Hort's decision to use one of his own sick days so that Spassky could recover rather than making Spassky forfeit the game or play sick is a testament to Hort's character.

spassky was world champion if thats not good what is?

Spassky was a great master. He was good at both the attack and defense, but for some reason is not mentioned as much on people's top ten lists. He was a very strong player in his own right, and the fact that he became World Champion should speak for itself.

I think you guys overrate Fischer a little. Ever heard of Tigran Petrosian? To my mind, Petrosian was the true star of that time.

Irresistible Force vs. Immovable Object +5 -1 =3  1971

 Ever heard what Fischer did to Petrosian in 1971 ?!  LOL

Look at the WC 1972 - Larsen gave him one loss in the Interzonal (after which Fischer demolished him 6-0) and Petrosian won one game off him in a +5 =3 -1 performance by Fischer, another hugely comprehensive win. Spassky only lost 7 games to Fischer out of 21, and he managed to win two (and one by default). To draw so many games against the rampaging Fischer and to even win a couple, he was doing brilliantly. He was easily the best around other than Fischer - and don't forget that he beat Fischer a couple of times before the championship.

What are you trying to say?

In batgirl's recently posted family pic of spassky, i thought it was garry kasparov

 Speaking of the devil(s), When Fischer first won the US title he made a visit to the USSR, and when he made it to Moscow he beelined it to the Central Chess Club. He just beat he stuffing out of everyone there at blitz. Finally they called in Petrosian, who was always among the best Soviet blitzers, and he finally put a stop to Fischer's rampage.

That's a funny look on Fischer's face. I wonder if he's saying to himself, "What the hell is he up to!"

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.