"Legendary Soviet chess grandmaster Boris Spassky, known for his iconic 1972 loss to Bobby Fischer in the ‘Match of the Century,’ has passed away at the age of 88, the Chess Federation of Russia confirmed.

Spassky’s death is a significant loss to the world of chess, with generations of players learning from his matches. His former rival, Anatoly Karpov, remembered him as one of his main idols.

Spassky, born in Leningrad in 1937, became a grandmaster at just 18 and later rose to fame by winning the World Chess Championship in 1969. However, he is best remembered for his historic 1972 duel with Fischer, which ended Soviet dominance in chess. Despite the loss, Spassky found relief, calling it a "burden lifted."

After his defeat, Spassky lived in exile, moving to France in 1976. He briefly returned to the chess world with a rematch against Fischer in 1992. His later years were marked by ill health and personal challenges. He passed away in Moscow, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the chess world."