German grandmaster’s vast collection of chess memorabilia to be sold in London

Lothar Schmid watches over the 1972 Chess World Championship between Boris Spassky (left) and Bobby Fischer. Photograph: Sotheby’s

A vast collection of chess memorabilia, including souvenirs from the 1972 “Match of the Century” and considered to be the largest and most important of its kind in private hands, is to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London next month.

The collection belonged to the German grandmaster Lothar Schmid, whose passion for the sport extended way beyond the board.