Russian chess grand master Boris Spassky was in Iceland this week to participate in the Reykjavík Chess Tournament. On Monday he visited the grave of late chess legend Bobby Fischer, his rival and friend, at the remote Laugardaela Churchyard.
Other participants in the tournament, chess masters Fridrik Ólafsson, Lajos Portisch, Vlastimil Hort, Pal Benko and William Lombardy accompanied Spassky to Hraungerdishreppur parish where Fischer chose to be buried, Fréttabladid reports.
Lombardy, who was Fischer’s assistant in the legendary match with Spassky in Reykjavík in 1972, organized a small memorial ceremony for Fischer and afterwards the other chess masters held short speeches in honor of their lost companion.
The 23rd annual International Chess Tournament in Reykjavík ended yesterday with an award ceremony, as Morgunbladid reports.
Chairman of the Icelandic Chess Federation Gudfrídur Lilja Grétarsdóttir presented the top three players with a joint award of USK 8,000 (EUR 5,000), Hannes Hlífar Stefánsson from Iceland and Wang You and Wang Hao from China.
Click here to read more about Spassky in Iceland and the Reykjavík Chess Tournament, and to read more about Bobby Fischer.
