Chessboxing: Trade punches on a chess table

12 October, 2012

If you love watching both chess and boxing, chessboxing is a must watch for you. It will provide you with an opportunity to watch both the wise and energetic moves.

HAVE YOU ever heard about chessboxing? If not, you are going to soon hear about it as the sport has been growing in popularity around the world in recent times. It is a combination of two different sports - chess and boxing.

The game has been popular in Berlin, Germany and primarily in London, UK. One may be surprised that such event has taken place in India as well, but, still the sport in largely unknown. With Indians turning out to be good at both the sports, it would be wise if the sport is taken up seriously in India as well. The sport had been visualised by Enki Bilal, a cartoonist in 1992.

For those who have never witnessed the game, it may be quite confusing, where the players are required to play six rounds of chess and five rounds of boxing. Each round of boxing would last for three minues and it is the fast chess rule, which would be used for chess. A minute break is given after each round, so that the players can shift their focus to another sport.

Andy, a chessboxer supporter, in this nnis video said, “I enjoyed it. I am pumped. It is a nice cross between raw aggression and intellectual combat.” One of the players, who participated in the ring, Brian said, “Even though, I lost today. I gave it my all and the fight went all distance, gave the crowd everything they wanted.”

The game seems to be a challenging one and one needs lot of concentration and determination in such games. It is a battle of the brains and the brawn. You have to be good at both the sports, if you are to be successful in it. Not many would be able to master both the sports at one go. The result of the game can also be decided by knockouts (boxing) or a checkmate (chess).

Is it not a fascinating sight to see chess being played on a boxing ring. With the live commentary in the backdrop during the chess game, the players cover their ears with headphones, so they are not distracted and are able to focus on their game. Especially in chess, little distraction here or there could result in a loss.