Boris Spassky: biography and achievements

Among a large number of games and competitions, which are regularly broadcast on television, a significant part is occupied by desktop. One of them is chess. They regularly come into fashion, and then they are forgotten for a while. Popularity passes from one grandmaster to another. Among the many gifted players stands out Boris Spassky, at one time became the youngest chess player who participated in the international tournament.

early years

Boris Spassky was born in 1937, on January 30, in Leningrad. At an early age during the war, the future chess player was taken out of town and placed in an orphanage with many other children, who were rescued from the siege. During this period of life, five-year-old Boris got acquainted with the game and was carried away by it.

After the war, all the evacuees returned home, the normal course of life was restored. In 1946, Spassky was led by his mother to a circle of chess players in the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers. Every day for two years after returning home, the young chess player was engaged in a game and invited all his relatives to hold a party with him.

In this organization, the inexperienced Boris Spassky attracted universal attention with his skill and skill and at the same time modesty and shyness. But even at that time in his life he decided to become one of the most outstanding chess players in the world.

First victories

One of the first achievements that Boris Vasilievich Spassky wrote in his biography, is that at an early age he became an international master. Then he was only 16 years old. Two more years of training led him to a new title of world champion among boys. After graduation, Spassky entered the Institute at the Chair of Journalism. But he continued to train hard.

At the age of 18 he took third place in the USSR championship, and this gave him the opportunity to participate in the tournament of applicants, which was to be held the following year. Thus, Boris Spassky became the youngest participant of such a championship at that time.

Championship

For the first time appearing at the tournament of the contenders, the future champion divided the seats from 3 to 7 with the famous chess players of that time. All specialists called this a big breakthrough and predicted a successful future.

A few years later and a large number of defeats and victories Spassky met in 1969 at the tournament with Tigran Petrosyan and won the championship title. The honorary title of chess player was worn for 3 years. Bob Fisher and Boris Spassky in 1972 held a match, as a result of which the title passed to the new owner.

Famous matches

The most powerful and well-known matches can be attributed to those that occurred in the tournaments of applicants. The first of them was a game with Tigran Petrosyan in 1966, in which Spassky was defeated. Critics said that the newly minted grandmaster was too presumptuous and young. After 3 years in the fight against the same opponent, the title of the champion was won by our hero with a score of 12.5: 10.5.

Bobby Fisher and Boris Spassky met at the tournament of contenders in 1972. On the appointed date, the American did not fly, and the match could not take place, which the Soviet side demanded. Nevertheless, the acting champion acted with his peculiar gentlemanliness, and, according to the decision of President Max Euwe, the day of the match was postponed. The whole game took place with difficulties, and, despite the fact that Spassky won the first and second games, he lost the fight, and the title went to Fisher.

Many said that the American behavior was specially played to disorientate the opponent. Refusal from the stage due to improper place and in the next installment the use of new technique of the game made the tournament results memorable, as well as the names of the players - Bobby Fisher and Boris Spassky. Who won and who should win, many argue until now.

Trainer

The first serious coach for Boris Spassky was Igor Bondarevsky. It was thanks to his persistent instruction and long training that significant results began to appear, with which it was possible to enter the championship. Also in the team was Nikolai Krogius, who helped prepare for the game with Tigran Petrosyan.

Having received the victory and the championship, Spassky Boris - a chess player who by that moment knew and was invited to interview and sports events, began to devote little time to the game itself. In 3 years it was necessary to confirm the title, and this should be preceded by a strong and persistent training.

A new person appears in the team - Grandmaster Efim Geller. With the old champion coach, the latter had strong disagreements, the company constantly had quarrels and disputes. Bobby Fisher and Boris Spassky were to converge on the championship game. During the preparation for it, the chess player and his trainer Igor Bondarevsky had a very strong argument, as a result of which the latter resigned.

As a result, preparing the current champion for the game was weak, and despite a decent game, Boris Spassky was defeated and lost his title.

France

After several defeats and the emergence of new young and strong players Boris Vasilievich Spassky left the big sport, but did not give up his favorite pastime. In 1976, he married Mariana Shcherbacheva. As the wife of the chess player worked in the French embassy, the family moved to France. Despite living away from home, Spassky continued to perform at international championships for the USSR.

Gradually, chess began to go into the background, and by the 1990s, the grandmaster was less likely to appear at big tournaments. Boris Spassky, whose biography is filled with the strongest games, still remains an example for many. He never ceases to observe the activities of the association, sometimes gives interviews and consultations.

In France, Spassky's son was born, also named Boris, and later a daughter was born.

The family lives in the south of the country.

In 2010, the former champion suffered a stroke, as a result of which he was bedridden for a long time.

Homecoming

In 2012, Boris Spassky came to Russia, where he continued treatment of the consequences of a stroke. This event stirred the public. Many mass media have written that the chess player escaped, as he was not given proper treatment, and the family isolated him from the society. Others described the escape process, in which Spassky was helped by an old friend. He led him out of the house and sent it to the Russian embassy.

The grandmaster himself is trying to bypass this topic and the comments are lean and streamlined. His son flew to Russia, but with his wife Marina, Boris was going to get divorced. Recently, he lives in his homeland. Boris, Jr., who entered the French Institute, now studies in St. Petersburg as a lawyer.

Interesting Facts

In the 90s, Boris Spassky played rarely and did not go to big events. In 1992, the International Chess Association held a memorable and exemplary match between Fischer and Spassky with a prize fund of $ 5 million. As a result, the winner received most of the money, but the loser left with the prize.

The game was long, but friendly, as a result of which again the first became an American. Many observers argued that the match was not inferior in strength to modern tournaments, but still clearly seen the old school. And in the world of chess with the advent of computers has changed a lot.

On the money won, Boris Spassky bought the apartment for his relatives and friends. This man was always distinguished by kindness, perseverance and an open heart.

For many years he has been friends with eminent grandmasters, even with those whom he repeatedly lost.