The Match of All Time (SOFTCOVER)

The Match of All Time (softcover) is an English-language chess book by Gudmundur Thorarinsson about the 1972 World Championship match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, with a close look at how the event was organised in Iceland.

What this book covers

Thorarinsson revisits one of the most famous episodes in chess history and the story behind it. He traces the bid to host the Spassky–Fischer match, the difficulties of staging it on a small Atlantic island, and the chain of events that made the contest far more than an ordinary sporting meeting.

The book also follows the match itself, including Fischer’s delayed arrival, the setback in game one, the forfeit in game two, and the turning point when game three was played in a separate room. The result is a first-hand account of a period that still shapes the legend of the match.

Why read it?

This is a strong choice for readers interested in chess history, Bobby Fischer, the Spassky–Fischer match, and the wider political and cultural setting of top-level chess. Because the author was directly involved, the book reads as a personal account of the organisation and pressure behind the scenes rather than a detached summary.

Edition details

• Product type: chess book
• Author: Gudmundur Thorarinsson
• Subject: the 1972 World Championship match between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer
• Language: English
• Binding: softcover
• Page count: 240