From Left: Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer

On September 1, 1972, in what’s billed as the “Match of the Century,”
American chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer defeated Russian the
World Chess Boris Spassky during Championship in Reykjavik,
Iceland.

In the world’s most publicized title match ever played, Fischer,
a 29-year-old Brooklynite, became the first American to win
the competition since its inception in 1866. The victory also
marked the first time a non-Russian had won the event in 24
years.

Bobby Fischer’s grave in Reykjavik.