NOT SOLD. Gunnar Magnússon: Chess set including board, table, pieces and clock. Board, table and sidetables are made of mahogany, rosewood and birch.

830/1122

Gunnar Magnússon (b. Olafsfjödur 1933)

Bobby Fischer vs Boris Spassky, Reykjavik 1972 “The Chess Match of All Time”

The legendary match took place 40 years ago, when the reigning Russian World Champion Boris Spassky was challenged by the American GM Bobby Fischer. The venue was Laugardalshöll Arena in Reykjavik, midway between Moscow and Washington, at the peak of the Cold War. Thus the match became a symbol of the political confrontation between the two superpowers.

Chess set including table, board, pieces and clock. Table, sidetables and board made of mahogany, rosewood and birch.

- Chessboard: This wooden chessboard was the very one chosen by the representatives of the two competitors and accepted by the players themselves to be the one replacing the initial stone board. In use from the 7th game and onwards until the 21st game. Signed by Fischer and Spassky. The board is build of rosewood and birch. Produced by Cabinetmaker Ragnar Haraldsson. 47,5 cm x 47,5 cm. The chess squares 5,5 cm x 5,5

- Chess table: Designed by Gunnar Magnússon and produced by Cabinetmaker Ragnar Haraldsson 1974. Two extra tables, identical to the initial match table, were made after the famous chess match. The chess table up for auction is one of the two existing original replicas from 1974, and has been used at the World Championships candidate match between Boris Spassky and Vlastimil Hort in Reykjavik in 1977; (Organized by Honorary member of FIDE Mr. Einar S. Einarsson). Build of mahagany, pads of goatskinn. H. 74,5 cm. L. 130 cm. D. 97,5. W. 80–90 kilograms Sidetables: Build of mahogany, H. 74,5, shelves H. 51,0 cm. W. 51,5. D. 51,5. W. 15–18 kilograms

- Chess pieces: Original contemporary set of Staunton pieces, a reserve set from the 1972 Match equipment

- Chess clock: Garde chess clock same brand as used in the match.

The chessboard's significant role

On request of the competiors the chessboard now up for auction replaced early in the match the original stoneboard. After the first match Bobby Fischer was very unhappy with several aspects, including the initial chessboard and particularly the presence of the noisy cameras. He denied to play unless the cameras were removed and when his demands were not immediately met, he forfeited the 2nd game. However, he agreed to play the 3rd game in a backroom without cameras and audience. Later in the match the initial stoneboard was finally replaced by this very wooden chessboard up for auction made by Cabinetmaker Ragnar Haraldsson. This board hence became the battlefield from the 7th game and onwards until the 21st game. The chessboard up for auction was after the match signed by the two competitors, Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.

Bobby Fischer finally won the dramatic, hyper-exposed showdown, making him the first American to win this prestigious title after W. Steinitz in 1886 (The 1st World Chess Champion).

Literature: For further information and documents, please visit our website: bruun-rasmussen.dk

Exhibitions: Have been exhibited by several occasions at chess events in Selforss and particularly Reykjavik, Iceland

- Table, board and pieces exhibited at The Cultural Night event, Reykjavik downtown, august 2011

Provenance: Table, board and pieces acquired in 1976 by the present owner.

Auction

Furniture and design, 14 June 2012