Boris Spassky Boris Spassky Boris Vasilievich Spassky (; born January 30, 1937) is a Russian chess grandmaster. He 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 won the Soviet Chess Championship twice outright (1961, 1973), and twice lost in playoffs (1956, 1963), after tying for first place during the event proper. He was a World Chess Championship candidate on seven occasions (1956, 1965, 1968,
Ed Edmondson (chess official) Ed Edmondson (chess official) Edmund Edmondson (13 August 1920 – 21 October 1982) was President of the United States Chess Federation from 1963 to 1966 and Executive Director of the USCF from 1966 to 1975. He served as an officer, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, with the United States Air Force. Edmondson played a key role in Bobby Fischer's path to the World Chess Champion in 1972. He asked Pal Benko, who had qualified for the 1970 Interzonal, to yield his spot to Fischer. Benko realized that Fischer had a much greater chance of winning and agreed, receiving a