Report from IM Anthony Saidy
On Sunday, a day after his 25-board, six-hour simul (+20, =5), I watched Boris Spassky’s two-hour lecture at the Mechanics Institute, at the end of which he lost the thread and had to sit down. That evening he was confused and we rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a stroke.
Having left him with his wife Marina & the chess fraternity, I returned home to L.A. this morning. Over the phone today he sounded fine, humorous as ever. Not yet allowed to eat, he said he was on a “hunger strike.” But the greatest sportsman in chess history is not out of the woods. More tests must be done, and they want him to stay in the hospital all week and to cancel his scheduled appearance at the Western States Open in Reno later this week.
AS
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I would like to wish Boris a fast and full recovery! I have known Boris for many years and we had many intriguing conversations as well as some wonderful chess battles. He has always been very kind to me and he is a true gentleman of chess! I even wrote a section about him in my latest book “Breaking Through“.
Get well Boris!
Susan Polgar
I am a great fan of Boris.
He is classy and created some real masterpieces on the chessboard.
Hope he gets well soon.
All the best GM Boris and have speedy recovery..I still can remember the world tidle games with R Fisher in the early seventy’s ..when the Spassky – Fisher games made headline news all around the world and for all the right reasons..A TRUE ChAMPION AND GENTELMAN
I hope he recovers soon.
Je ne connais pas personnellement Mr.Spassky mais je suis un passionné d’échecs et je lui souhaite un prompt rétablissement
François MICHEL
I hope Boris will be fine. He is a real gentleman. And…I want to see the 2012 WC-rematch…
Best wishes to Boris for his recovery. It was his match with Fischer that really sparked my interest in chess when I was in junior high, and I’ve always held him in high regard.
Best wishes for Boris.
Unrelated question.
Hello Susan,
I was wondering what you think of the following?
I have played in and followed hundreds of chess tournaments and it has always been the case that in case of ties the prize money is split, while tie breaks may be used for trophies.
In the recently concluded Susan Polgar Giant Chess Set Tournament in Corpus Christi, 2 teams tied for 3rd thru 4th place with 3.0/5.0, but the organizers decided to use tie breaks for the prizes as well as the trophies.
For the record, the third place team generously decided to split the money with the 4th place team, but I think that this should have been done by the organizers.
Thank you for your time.
Chess has suffered a lot in last one week. I hope Boris will recover fast and serve as a model for the many Top chess players to emulate him in his sportsmanship. Especially the “Champions” in Elista would learn from his book and accept the result after the the last game of the match.
(…For the record, the third place team generously decided to split the money with the 4th place team, but I think that this should have been done by the organizers.)
I do not know of the conditions from the sponsors. However, it is more popular to split the money. However, there are many tournaments that will award money based on placement and not split.
In the US Championship, money is not split. They play a play off game to decide the title, tropy and money.
That is usually left up to the organizer and / or sponsor.
It was a great gesture by the 3rd place team!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
I’ll join you in wishing him a fast recovery.
Thanks Susan for replying
http://gettingto2000.blogspot.com
Meilleurs voeux de prompt rétablissement à Boris Spassky !
Best wish good recovery !
From the french chessplayers.
I was there with my son for both the Simul on Saturday (my son played him) and Sunday’s lecture. During the lecture he look tired, which I attributed to the long simul the day before. However, after the lecture, he seemed fine when signing autographs.
We pray for a speedy recovery. I know that my son and I will not forget that chess experience.
Hi Susan! 🙂
Alan Benson here (I’m Malthrope on Mig’s Chess Ninja Forum Boards).
I’ve written some of this news that Tony has reported (I was there first hand along with Boris, Marina, Tony, Mike and John at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Room in San Francisco).
You can find my current posting acknowledging all this here:
“Spassky simul & lectures in San Francisco!”
http://www.chessninja.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001298;p=1#000007
(paste and copy or just visit Chess Ninja and view post in “International Events”)
We were very lucky to have Dr. Anthony Saidy (Tony) present at the time…
The last time that I saw you was at the “Pan-Pacific International Grandmaster Chess Tournament 1991” in San Francisco!
That time it was, “Tal’s in town!” 🙂
Clearly, we all hope the very best for Boris and may his recovery be swift as the Russian Bear that he truly is! :-)))
Sincerely,
Your old chess friend,
Alan Benson
Berkeley, CA / USA
(aka: Malthrope)
One of the grey eminences in chess.
From the bottom of my heart I wish him a speedy recovery too.
Very sad news, thank God Dr. Saidy was there! Yes my interest in chess also started with the Spassky-Fischer Match as so many others here at least in America. Was a different era then, but you were always a true sportsman that held chess class on the highest of levels, compared to the complete travesty we are witnessing now in Elista. I pray for a fast and speedy recovery, Champ! Bruce Towell Parma, Ohio
Why did you have to attach product link??
Some blogger name Goran insulted you by accusing you of placing link in this post. Is it true?
It is unfortunate that some people insist on attacking or insulting me without provocation and without knowing the full facts. I have not seen this posting. Therefore, I cannot respond to it.
There was a link. It was meant to direct the readers to an nice excerpt about Spassky in my book. But for some reason, the link went to the wrong spot so I removed it.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.SusanPolgar.com