For those of us around at the time, the Fischer-Spassky match of 1972 generated coverage of chess unlike anything seen before, and it contributed to, even caused, an explosion of interest in this country that lead to England being the second best in the world in the 1980s.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/28/boris-spassky-obituary 
Comments
RIP Boris.
RIP
If Spassky was British he would've been knighted and lived in a castle and been superior to Kings and Bishops who are basically yes men and pawns to the system. A cerebral Brain like Boris would've been a great friend.
Boris Spassky, RIP after your final move, Mate.