Boriss Spaskis

Boriss Spaskis was a distinguished chess player and the tenth World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1969 to 1972. He is celebrated for his iconic match against Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik in 1972, which ended Soviet dominance in chess and became known as the 'Match of the Century.' Spaskis was recognized for his remarkable ability to adapt to various playing styles and was considered the first truly universal player in chess history. After emigrating from the Soviet Union to France in 1976, he later returned to Russia in 2012. His death was announced by FIDE, which praised him as one of the greatest players of all time.