logo
Russian chess grandmaster Spassky dies aged 88

Russian chess grandmaster Spassky dies aged 88

NBC News28-02-2025

Russian chess grandmaster Boris Spassky has died at the age of 88, international chess federation (FIDE) general director Emil Sutovsky told Reuters on Thursday.
Spassky, who took French nationality in 1978, was the 10th World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1969-1972, when he lost it to American Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik in a contest later dubbed as the 'Match of the Century'.
During that match in the midst of the Cold War, which he lost 12.5-8.5 despite winning the first two games, Spassky showed great sportsmanship, applauding Fischer after losing the sixth game.
Former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who beat Spassky in the semi-finals of the Candidates tournament in 1974, paid a warm tribute.
'My idols in chess were Jose Capablanca and Boris Spassky. And when I managed to beat Spassky, it was the greatest of victories and, in a sense, defeating something inside me by beating my teacher,' Karpov told state news agency RIA.
'For me, Boris Spassky was an entire era for chess. He became most famous, of course, for being the man who handed over the title to Bobby Fischer.
'But he had chances to win that match. He may have lost by a wide margin, but when everything was in his favor, he let his chances slip away.'
Spassky had been the oldest living world chess champion.
'A great personality has passed away, generations of chess players have studied and are studying his games and his work. This is a great loss for the country,' Russian Chess Federation President Andrei Filatov told the TASS news agency.
Alexander Tkachev, executive director of the Russian Chess Federation, said Spassky's death was a huge loss for the world of chess.
'Boris Vasilevich lived in Moscow and was in contact with everyone close to him... I knew him in a different way than from books. It was always interesting to speak with him. He was a very interesting story-teller and it's hard for me to talk about him leaving us,' Tkachev told RIA news agency.
Spassky represented France in three chess Olympiads in 1984, 1986 and 1988, and was seen playing in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris during the 1990s.
After his health deteriorated in the early 2000s, Spassky disappeared from Paris in August, 2012 before resurfacing in Moscow in October that year.
'It was my desire to return to Russia, because my time in France had run its course. It was time to start a new stage. I understood it was time to leave,' he said at the time.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Scotland summer rugby tour squad named as 45-cap forward returns from exile
Scotland summer rugby tour squad named as 45-cap forward returns from exile

Scotsman

time41 minutes ago

  • Scotsman

Scotland summer rugby tour squad named as 45-cap forward returns from exile

Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... George Turner has been recalled by Scotland for the summer tour to New Zealand and Fiji. The 45-times capped hooker has not played for the national side since leaving Glasgow Warriors to move to Japan to play for Kobelco Kobe Steelers at the end of the 2023-24 season. He was unavailable for Scotland duties due to the Japan Rugby League One schedule clashing with the Six Nations but has now agreed a deal to join Harlequins for next season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Turner, 32, is joined in the 36-man squad by three uncapped players: stand-off Fergus Burke, back-rower Alexander Masibaka and tighthead prop Fin Richardson. Burke, the Saracens 10, and Masibaka, who plays in the French second tier for Soyaux Angoulême, were both involved in Six Nations squads this year but did not get any game-time. George Turner has not played for Scotland since the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. | SNS Group Richardson, meanwhile, has forced his way into the reckoning at Glasgow Warriors. The tighthead prop started Saturday's URC semi-final against Leinster in Dublin and has played nine times for the club since moving from Exeter Chiefs last summer. The squad, which will be captained by Rory Darge, is far less experimental than that which toured the Americas last summer. On that occasion, head coach Gregor Townsend capped 11 new players. There is an experienced core despite the absence of the Scotland players called up for the British & Irish Lions' tour of Australia. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has appointed Rory Darge as his tour captain. | SNS Group Andy Onyeama-Christie of Saracens makes a welcome return after recovering from injury and Matt Fagerson is also included despite missing the end of the season due to an ankle issue. Others returning after missing the Six Nations include Kyle Steyn, Adam Hastings, Cameron Redpath, Harry Paterson, Cameron Henderson and Max Williamson. But there is no place for Dave Cherry, Scotland's starting hooker in all five Six Nations games. The national side will leave for the southern hemisphere later this month to play three matches in July. The tour kicks off against the Māori All Blacks in Whangārei on Saturday, July 5. Scotland will then head to Suva to play Fiji on Saturday, July 12 at the HFC Bank Stadium. The tour will finish back in New Zealand where Scotland will take on Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, July 18. Townsend has called in Fergus Pringle to his coaching group for the tour. Pringle, the Scotland Under-20 assistant coach, will serve as forwards coach for the national team, deputising for John Dalziel who will be with the British & Irish Lions this summer. South-African born Pringle joined Hawick in 2003 before playing for Edinburgh Rugby as a second-row from 2004-08. He had stints as head coach at Boroughmuir and as assistant coach at Currie Chieftains before moving to Watsonians as head coach and leading them to the FOSROC Super Series championship in 2022. He has been with Scotland U20 since 2022. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fergus Pringle said: 'I'm really grateful for the opportunity. I have big shoes to fill, in place of JD (John Dalziel), but it's a massive honour and something I'm really looking forward to.' Scotland Skyscanner Pacific Tour Squad Backs (15): Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped), Matt Currie - Edinburgh Rugby (4 caps), Jamie Dobie - Glasgow Warriors (12), Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby (46), Adam Hastings - Glasgow Warriors (32), George Horne - Glasgow Warriors (36), Tom Jordan - Glasgow Warriors (8), Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (14), Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (13), Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby (3), Arron Reed - Sale Sharks (3), Kyle Rowe - Glasgow Warriors (12), Ollie Smith - Glasgow Warriors (9), Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (23), Ben White – Toulon (29.

Carlos Alcaraz set to lose huge chunk of his £2.1million French Open winnings due to little-known rule
Carlos Alcaraz set to lose huge chunk of his £2.1million French Open winnings due to little-known rule

Scottish Sun

time44 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Carlos Alcaraz set to lose huge chunk of his £2.1million French Open winnings due to little-known rule

Alcaraz achieved a feat only bettered by two tennis icons NET NEGATIVE Carlos Alcaraz set to lose huge chunk of his £2.1million French Open winnings due to little-known rule Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CARLOS ALCARAZ is set to lose a huge amount of his £2.1million French Open prize money. The Spaniard beat Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final that lasted five hours and 29 minutes on Sunday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Carlos Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Alcaraz saved three match points in the fourth set as he staged an incredible comeback to seal victory 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6. It was his second French Open crown in as many years and his win earned him a sweet £2.13m. Rules state that tax on prize money pocketed must be paid in the country where the tournament is hosted. That means Alcaraz has had to give 30 per cent to the French government as that is the local tax rate on earnings of that size. READ MORE IN TENNIS Not in good Nick Nick Kyrgios 'axed from BBC's Wimbledon coverage' amid row over pundit It sees the 22-year-old cough up a staggering £639,000. However, his cheque will still be worth a whopping £1,491,000. Alcaraz will not have to pay income tax on his Roland Garros cash in Spain. But as he is still registered as a resident in his homeland, any other earnings like sponsorship deals could come within the Spanish government's grasp. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Alcaraz has a won £35.3m in prize money alone across his career so far. Before the French Open began, he told the Tennis Channel what he spends his cash on, saying: "Not after every big win, but for example at the Grand Slams, if I reach the semi-finals, I like to buy myself a new pair of sneakers. Carlos Alcaraz stuns French Open fans with classy gesture as he wins rally but concedes point due to little-known rule "If I feel like I had a good season, at the end of the year I'll buy myself a nice watch." Alcaraz has now won five Grand Slam titles - with only Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal reaching that milestone at a younger age.

Deontay Wilder shows off incredible state-of-the-art home boxing gym ahead of former world champ's return fight
Deontay Wilder shows off incredible state-of-the-art home boxing gym ahead of former world champ's return fight

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Deontay Wilder shows off incredible state-of-the-art home boxing gym ahead of former world champ's return fight

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DEONTAY WILDER has invested in a state-of-the-art home boxing gym ahead of his return fight. The former WBC champion looks to revive his career on July 27 against little-known Tyrrell Herndon. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Deontay Wilder has invested in a state-of-the-art home boxing gym Credit: Instagram @Bronzebomber 5 It comes ahead of his return Credit: Instagram @Bronzebomber 5 The gym has several custom boxing bags 5 There are LED lights fitted in for effect And he will do so having prepared for the bout in his custom-built gym dubbed "King of God's Army." It features a full-sized ring, several different boxing bags all with Wilder's logo printed out on it and LED lights to give a "dramatic" feel. There is also a lounge area and a massage table to relax in after tough sessions and motivational messages surround the building. Wilder purchased a £1.3million home in California in 2020 while still living in his £1m mansion in Lake Tuscaloosa. READ MORE IN BOXING WOULD BE WILD Wilder emerges as shock contender for AJ as Whyte rematch is ruled out The American was knocked out last June by Zhilei Zhang, 42, having been stunned on points by Joseph Parker, 33, in December 2023. His last win came in 2022 when he knocked out Robert Helenius in one round. Wilder was twice lined up to fight Anthony Joshua but blew his opportunity after defeats to Parker and Zhang. Joshua, 35, later lost to Daniel Dubois, 27, and has since been recovering from an elbow injury that required surgery. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS He is eyeing a return before the year ends as Frank Smith - CEO of Matchroom Boxing who promote AJ - named Wilder as a potential opponent. Smith told Boxing News: "Do you know what fight I love? If he comes through his warm-up, Deontay Wilder. "This sport is about narrative. It's about buying into fights that people have interest in and that's a fight that everyone would still have interest in. "Regardless of whether it didn't happen five years ago, people still want to see it now. So hopefully he can come through his fight."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store