Boris Spassky, the 10th world chess champion who passed away in February 2025, is primarily remembered for his 1972 world championship match against Bobby Fischer amidst Cold War tensions. Spassky's life involved a traumatic childhood during the Nazi siege of Leningrad and significant achievements in chess. His victory over Tigran Petrosian in 1969 marked a pivotal moment in his career. This famous duel with Fischer showcased the intersection of chess and geopolitical rivalry, highlighting the perceived intellectual superiority of communism over capitalism, drawing global interest.
"Spassky learned to play chess in unusual circumstances, at the age of five, on a train full of children evacuated from Leningrad before the Nazis besieged the city."
"To understand why the legendary duel for the world title in Reykjavik was front-page news for months, there are two key factors: the button for nuclear war was on the verge of being pressed; chess was a national passion in the USSR."
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