Boris Spassky Quotes

• We can compare classical chess and rapid chess with theatre and cinema – some actors don’t like the latter and prefer to work in the theatre.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Work

  Tags in Theatre

• Time control directly influences the quality of play.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Time, Control, Play

• The Soviet Union was an exception, but even there chess players were not rich. Only Fischer changed that.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Rich, Union

• The place of chess in the society is closely related to the attitude of young people towards our game.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Attitude, Society

• Recently I saw Kasparov and he looked to me as still young and potent champion.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Young, Champion

• On the other hand, chess is a mass sport now and for chess organisers shorter time control is obviously more attractive. But I think that this control does not suit World Championship matches.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Time, Control

• Nowadays young people have great choice of occupations, hobbies, etc, so chess is experiencing difficulties because of the high competition. Now it’s hard to make living in chess, so our profession does attract young people.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Great, Hard

• Nowadays there is more dynamism in chess, modern players like to take the initiative. Usually they are poor defenders though.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Poor, Modern

• Nowadays the dynamic element is more important in chess – players more often sacrifice material to obtain dynamic compensation.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Sacrifice

  Tags in Important

• Nowadays it would be reasonable to have an annual world championship.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Reasonable

• In my country, at that time, being a champion of chess was like being a King. At that time I was a King – and when you are King you feel a lot of responsibility, but there is nobody there to help you.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Country

  Tags in Time, Help

• I try to help developing junior chess. When I lived in USSR, I got a lot of free help from very good coaches – now I am trying to repay that debt.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Good, Help

• I think that the World Champion should try to defend the quality of play more than anyone else.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Play, Try

• I don’t want ever to be champion again.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Champion

• I also follow chess on the Internet, where Kasparov’s site is very interesting.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Follow, Internet

• For example, computer defends well, but for humans its is harder to defend than attack, particularly with the modern time control.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Time, Control, Modern

• Bobby Fischer has an enormous knowledge of chess and his familiarity with the chess literature of the USSR is immense.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Knowledge

  Tags in Literature

• When I played Bobby Fischer, my opponent fought against organizations – the television producers and the match organizers. But he never fought against me personally. I lost to Bobby before the match because he was already stronger than I. He won normally.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Lost, Against

• When you play Bobby, it is not a question if you win or lose. It is a question if you survive.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Win, Play, Lose

• When I am in form, my style is a little bit stubborn, almost brutal. Sometimes I feel a great spirit of fight which drives me on.

  Boris Spassky

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Great, Fight

Boris Spassky (21)

Birth:	30th January, 1937
Nationality:	Russian
Profession:	Chess Player

About

Boris Spassky was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. He is a Russian  chess grandmaster. He was the tenth World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1969 to 1972. He is known as one of the greatest living chess players, and is the oldest living world champion. Spassky won the Soviet Chess Championship twice outright, and twice lost in playoffs, after tying for first place during the event proper. He was a World Chess Championship candidate on seven occasions.

Related Authors

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• Bobby Fischer
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• Boris Spassky
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• Max Euwe

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Today's Anniversary - 6th January

Births

• 1970 - Julie Chen
• 1943 - Terry Venables
• 1963 - Philippe Perrin
• 1892 - Stella Benson
• 1948 - Robert Ellsworth Wise Jr.

Deaths

• 1919 - Max Heindel
• 1921 - Alexander Whyte
• 1981 - A. J. Cronin
• 1919 - Theodore Roosevelt
• 2006 - Lou Rawls