AWARDCHESS:What do you mean by client?
Part of the reason that Spassky lost to fischer is that he hated being the world champion and stopped playing well. Another example of losing because of underestimation was the Capablanca-Alekhine Match, because Capablanca had never lost to Alekhine before and never prepared for any games anyways (which is why almost all of the games have the same opening), which was the opposite of Alekhine.
"Client" it is just a terminology, that GM used to point a regular losers...
Spassky did a lot - to loose a Match!
N. Krogius mentioned, that when the Coaches tried to convince Spassky to prepare to play against Fisher first move 1.D2-D4!, B. Spassky reject it at all! He was sure, that Fisher will play just 1.E2-E4!
Korchnoy also mentioned, that Spassky is lazy...
Well the laziest player to become the world champion was probably Capablanca, but he was so much better than everyone else that it did not matter (in the match with Alekhine almost all the games start with the QGD Orthodox variation). I don't actually know much about the Spassky-Fischer match, so I'll take your word for it.
During he late 60s early 70s it was easily, Bobby Fischer, who excited Americans the most. But, although a great player, he was not an inspiring champion. My personal choise is Kasparov, in terms of what he has done to promote chess to the world and in terms of his being an inspiring world champion. Like the great champions of sports competitions, he has always brought a measure of integrity to the game. In that sence, I feel he "excites" more people.
I am without a doubt the most dangerous player in the game today.
That is brilliant!
Sorry Jayded, I meant for you to comment on GMs only. If you are a GM - reveal yourself!!!! If not, do you have a favourite GM for out and out "cojones"?!? (Not necessarily the best player ever.)
One of my particular favourites (excepting the obvious choices) is the late Leonid Stein. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:
"Stein’s creative style was greatly influenced by Chigorin and Alekhine. He was a highly intuitive, natural player. He was considered to be a brilliant attacking genius, but nevertheless played very sound chess, being less willing than Tal to complicate with unforeseeable results. He excelled with Black in sharp variations such as the King's Indian Defence, the Grunfeld Defence, and the Sicilian Defence.
He was one of a few players who had an even record against Vassily Smyslov, Tigran Petrosian, and Mikhail Botvinnik. He even had plus records against Mikhail Tal, Boris Spassky, and Paul Keres. Stein defeated virtually all of the top players of his era. His peak Chessmetrics rating was 2759, in September 1966.
Grandmaster Raymond Keene wrote a book on his career: Leonid Stein – Master of Attack."
The above mentioned book is very cheap in paperback and packed full of the most aggressive play, a real treat.
L.Stein remind me R.Negmetdinov, who was been a great combinational Chess player, as well as a Checkers player/ Master/!
Blah Blah Blah this is reely misunderstanding
For you maybe bro!
Karpov lead Tal 1 or 2 games from about 20, and Kasparov slightly lead Karpov a few games...
Geller VS. Fisher 5:2, as I can recall! It is a best score against Fisher!
Tal first lead Fisher 4:0!
Karpov first lead Kasparov 5:0!
Tal was a client for Korchnoy! As a Bronshtein was been the client for Spassky!
Shirov was been the client for Kasparov!
Fisher first was been down VS. Spassky, before their first Match 3:0 = 2 Draws!
Spassky underestimated him, and paid badly for not enough respect!