MOSCOW — Boris Spassky, the celebrated Soviet chess grandmaster who once held the world title, and famously played against Bobby Fischer in 1972 during the Cold War, has passed away in Moscow at the age of 88. He died on Thursday.

The International Chess Federation, the organization that governs chess, announced the death of Spassky, who was considered a chess prodigy in his youth. The cause of death was not disclosed.

In a statement on social media, the International Chess Federation hailed Spassky as ‘one of the greatest chess players ever,’ noting his significant and lasting impact on the game.

Spassky’s 1972 championship match against Fischer became a global phenomenon, capturing worldwide attention as a symbolic clash between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period. It was dubbed the ‘Match of the Century’.

Fischer’s victory in Reykjavik, Iceland, marked a historic moment as the first time an American had won the world chess championship. At 29 years old, Fischer, a chess genius from Brooklyn, New York, secured the title for the U.S.

Bobby Fischer passed away in 2008.

Garry Kasparov, another former world champion, shared on social media that Spassky was always supportive of younger chess players, especially those who felt out of place within the Soviet system, much like Spassky himself.

Spassky relocated to France in 1976.

The chess federation’s website highlights the Spassky-Fischer match as ‘one of the most iconic’ encounters in chess history.

According to The Washington Post, Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric believed Spassky’s exceptional ability to adapt his playing style to match his opponents was his key strength.