Boris Spassky, legendary Russian chess player and the 10th World Chess Champion who rose to international fame in the 1972 “Match of the Century” against American Bobby Fischer, died Thursday in Moscow at age 88.

The icon’s death was announced by the Russian Chess Federation, who mourned the loss of one of the 20th century’s most influential chess players.

“A great personality has passed away; generations of chess players learned and continue to learn from his games and work. A great loss for the country,” Andrei Filatov, president of the Russian Chess Federation said in a statement to Russian outlet Tass.

His cause of death was not announced. Spassky had been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a debilitating stroke in 2010.

Arkady Dvorkovich, president of chess’ governing body FIDE, called Spassky “one of the greatest players of the Soviet era and the world” and a “true gentleman,” in a statement issued Thursday.

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