Boris Vasilievich Spassky (Russian: Бори́с Васи́льевич Спа́сский; January 30, 1937 – February 27, 2025) was a Russian chess grandmaster who was the tenth World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1969 to 1972. Spassky played three world championship matches: he lost to Tigran Petrosian in 1966; defeated Petrosian in 1969 to become world champion; then lost to Bobby Fischer in a famous match in 1972. Spassky died in Moscow on February 27, 2025, at the age of 88.