Play Chess Against Boris Spassky

Boris Spassky (1937-2025), the tenth world champion, a universal genius and Fischer's rival in Reykjavik, sits across the board. Set the strength, clock, color and starting position, then press Start game.

Play Spassky now

Portrait of Boris Spassky — Boris Spassky, 1937-2025.

Black · Boris Spassky10:00

Choose the settings, then press Start game.

White · You10:00

Boris Spasskyhistorical player

Preparing the board.

Set the game on the right. Start unlocks the board and starts the side-to-move clock.

Set up your game against Boris Spassky

Boris Spassky stays selected. Choose the playing strength, clock, color and starting position.

OpponentBoris SpasskyStrength1500Clock10+5You playWhite

Opponent

Boris Spassky remains selected while you choose the settings for this game.

Boris Spassky1937-2025

Playing strength

Legend playing strength100-point steps

1500

1500Spassky, 1500 Elo target2600

Time control

The first number is the starting time in minutes. The second is the increment after each completed legal move.

Your color

Starting position optional

All chess legends

Start game locks these settings and begins the selected clock. Change setup unlocks them for a new game.

About Boris Spassky

Boris Spassky in a 1969 Soviet Life portrait

Boris Spassky (1937-2025) was the most complete player of his generation, at home in every type of position. A Leningrad siege child and world junior champion at eighteen, he climbed through the Candidates twice and took the crown from Petrosian in 1969 at his second attempt. His 1972 loss to Fischer in Reykjavik, endured with famous grace, made him one of the best-known losers in sports history. He later settled in France and remained the game's beloved elder statesman until his death at eighty-eight.

10th world championBeat Petrosian 12.5-10.5 in 1969 after losing to him in 1966

World junior championWon the 1955 world junior title and became the youngest grandmaster ever at eighteen

Two-time USSR championWon the Soviet championship in 1961 and again in 1973

Reykjavik sportsmanLost the Match of the Century to Fischer in 1972 with a grace admired everywhere

1937
Born in Leningrad
Born on 30 January 1937. His family was evacuated during the wartime siege, and he learned chess on the journey.
1955
Junior champion and GM
Won the world junior championship in Antwerp, qualified for the Candidates and became the youngest grandmaster in history at eighteen.
1960
The Bronstein brilliancy
Beat David Bronstein with a King's Gambit in the USSR championship, one of the most replayed attacking games of the century.
1961
USSR champion
Won the Soviet championship, the toughest national event in the world.
1966
First title match
Challenged Tigran Petrosian in Moscow and lost narrowly, 11.5-12.5.
1969
World champion
Beat Geller, Larsen and Korchnoi in the Candidates, then Petrosian 12.5-10.5 to take the crown.
1972
Reykjavik
Lost the Match of the Century to Fischer 8.5-12.5, playing on with dignity through the circus around the match.
1973
USSR champion again
Won his second Soviet title ahead of Karpov, Korchnoi and Petrosian.
1976
A new home in France
Moved to France with his French wife, settled near Paris and later played for the French Olympic team.
1992
The Fischer rematch
Lost the unsanctioned Yugoslavia rematch with Fischer 5-10, twenty years after Reykjavik.
2025
Death at 88
Died in Moscow on 27 February 2025. He was remembered as the last world champion of the classical universal school.