Interview with Boris Spassky Jnr

[Andrew Smith]

This interview in 2023 at the World of Chess, popped up on the YouTube channel on my phone. In a way, i found it a little emotional to see and hear from the son of a chess legend. What a wonderful interview with a wonderful guy. He seemed to have the same calmness and humbleness that i would imagine Boris Snr had. He gave a gentle insight into the behind the scenes world of his father and his family life. I probably appreciate it more, because i am from the generation that lived through and remembers the great Spassky - Fischer match of 1972. I was about 12 or 13, and it inspired me to have an interest in chess, that has remained with me for my whole life. Its not good to be old now, but i have the consolation of living through and witnessing great events like the 1966 World Cup ( in black and white), and both the 1968 Olympics and 1970 World Cup from Mexico (in spectacular colour) ! If you havent seen the interview with Boris Spassky Jnr., i wholeheartedly recommend you find it on YouTube. Its about 29 minutes long. One thing he mentions that i wasnt aware of was that Nigel Short had spent one or two weeks at Spassky's home preparing to play Kasparov ( presumably for the 1993 world championship) From my humble perspective, i see a strong simalarity between Spassky and Short in the clarity of their kingside attacks, and playing with the initiative. They both make attacking chess look so easy !

[Nick Burrows]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5LkzrfquVY

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Andrew.

'Its not good to be old now' I think it's great. I've been retired now for 4 years and go along with the Bob Dylan quote; 'A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.' and that is what I've been doing for past four years. Everyday is a Saturday!

I was a teenager during the 60's and I truly feel sorry for anyone who was not there. And 1972!! I had drifted in and out of chess till then, during that match I never stopped loving the game. Another you had to be there moment. I fully agree with the Nigel Short and Boris Spassky comparison. The 1993 final was IMO the best ever final. A digital clock, a wee rub of the green and that result would have been a lot closer.

The down side of being old is occasionally an old friend passes away. The latest being Graham Morrison. These are sad moments. Graham mentions in his first video, which won an award, that he too was captured by that chess net cast in 1972. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41UEd_Et4HI

[Andrew Smith]

Hi Geoff,
Sad news for Scottish chess. I played through Graham's game on the link. Obviously a strong player and a good analyst. Not someone i have ever come across but would like to have done.
I am not sure that i agree that 1993 was the best World Championship Match. I have enjoyed them all but in particular, the Karpov - Korchnoi and Karpov - Kasparov matches, because of the added ingredient of animosity ! This added to the spectacle.
In more recent times, i feel that the matches as good as they are, are just far too short. When you know that the tradition has been for 24 game matches, and have been brought up on them, any match that is shorter, seems inadaquate.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Andrew,

Yes some great W.C. matches with Karpov - Kasparov. But top three (IMO) 72, 78 and 1993.
Best book of a world title match, there are dozens on the '72 match all good for one reason or another. Ray's 1978 book is a classic also I really like Harry Golombek's book on the 1954 final but best (again IMO) Tal's book on his 1960 title win.

I like the shorter format of 14 games. Not fond of the tie breaks. Think if tied one more classical game with the challenger as White. If that is drawn then the Champion retains the title. Not sure what they would have done with the last title match. There was no Champion.

[Matt Mackenzie]

1987 was IMO the best K v K match - absolutely terrific chess throughout, and an unforgettable ending.

But it was also, unforgivably, the first WC match since before Fischer not to get major television coverage in Britain.

[Bob Kane]

Thanks for the heads up ! A great video about one of my favorite players.
Somewhere out there is a video of Spassky giving a master class in Gibralter 2009

[Bob Kane]

Can it be true ?

lost forever 3 hours of Spassky commentary
https://en.chessbase.com/post/gibtel-ma ... s-of-spaky