Upcoming at Auction: Fischer vs Spassky 1972 Chessboard
The chessboard used in what was arguably the most important chess match of the 20th century will be sold at auction by Heritage on November 17-19. The opening bid is $75,000, with a reserve of $150,000.
In 1972, Bobby Fischer (USA) and Boris Spassky (USSR) descended on Reykjavik, Iceland for the World Chess Championship. With the world watching and the Cold War looming large in the background, Fischer and Spassky played 21 games. The championship was won 12 1/2 to 8 1/2 by Fischer. It was the first time ever that a natural born American had won the World Chess Championship and ended a 24-year Soviet domination of the game.
"The 1972 World Chess Championship remains to this day the most studied and celebrated series in the history of the game," said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Auctions at Heritage in a press statement. "It's revered both for the elite level of play and for the geopolitical USA vs. USSR climate in which it lived and breathed."
Both players signed the board at the end of the championship.
Image Courtesy of Heritage Auctions
