I blogged in December HERE about chess boxing and you can see a video too on this link! Now it’s also in the UK! I’m glad I don’t have to box before I can play a game of chess! Wonder if they play some good chess games in this sport…or is it just for the fun…and because of the rules…that they make only a few moves to keep the organisers happy….hehehe…wonder if they have chess coaches…chess is about tactics…concentration…seems to me the skills these people need too…hehe… yeah yeah chess!! once again!
Opponents compete over the chessboard then hit each other in the boxing ring in a combination sport being introduced to north London.
Chessboxing features alternate rounds of chess and boxing, with the winner decided by either knockout, checkmate or a judge’s decision after 11 rounds.
The first UK chessboxing club has begun at Islington Boxing Club in Archway.
Founder Tim Woolgar said: “Boxing requires tactical thinking, a skill that is vital to playing chess.”
We train at a high level to ensure competitors learn how to fully defend themselves
Chessboxing originates from Berlin, where the world’s first tournament was held last November. Championships have also taken place in Amsterdam and Cologne.
“I’m interested in both chess and boxing, so I went to one of the Berlin championships and thought they combined the two perfectly,” said Mr Woolgar.
“Boxers need real strength of mind, which helps them compete in chess.”
Competitors are given 60 seconds to remove their gloves as they leave the ring to sit or stand at the chessboard.
Read the entire article HERE on the BBC’s site.
Image: National Geographic
To win, players must either checkmate or knock out their opponent within 11 rounds.
The Philippines is also good in Chess and Boxing. I think there is still room for improvement for this combine sports.
Those improvements is the goal of Philippine Chess Boxing Institute, Inc. where it will bring excitement and fun to this sports.
Now is the time.
I have often thought that chess is like wrestling, but it happens more slowly. Which is why I am not a good wrestler…
After a few shots to the head, doesn’t your concentration start to go bad?
Hi Chessboxing… I wonder…is it a sport in most countries nowadays…?
Hi Ray… I think it’s a good comparison, but someone on the chess site also said to me he sees it as a rugby game… 🙂
and I agree with what you say about the concentration…that’s why I was wondering about the quality of the game… 😆
It reminds me of a game I played in my young, stupid college days – drink chess.
The rules were, if you took your opponent’s piece, you had to take a drink, and if he put you in check, you had to take a drink.
Luckily I only played much weaker opponents at that game…
Hi Ray… I know those “games” your talking about… really silly games.. 😉 but I guess when you’re a student..you think it’s great fun! 😉
Can I ask though – how did you get this picked up and into google news?
Very impressive that this blog is syndicated through Google and is it something that is just up to Google or you actively created?
Obviously this is a popular blog with great data so well done on your seo success..
Boxing greats you should write about next!
hi karate training supplies..
Well, all blogs get picked up by google, you can decide if you want google to “pick it up” or not…
Thanks for your kind words…I don’t know if I’m somebody to write about boxing…lol! I only know Gerrie Coetzee and Mike Schutte…Kallie Knoetze…South African boxers and I think it’s Kallie that was a World Champion too… (heavy weight)..or Gerrie…can’t remember which one of the two…almost sure it was Kallie…we have tons of Kallie/Mike- jokes in South Africa …. 😉 So if you wanna me to blog about boxing, that will be my limit… I think I know more about chess … 🙂
Sounds like the crowd is having as much fun as the contestants. I think an American sport like BOWLING would gain a similar interest. Two teams made up of chessplayers or who know how to play, a chess set and board. Each team would move in turn with a strike or spare and a team might move out of turn if they bunch more spares and strikes than the opposing team. If a team threatens mate and the opposing team does not get a strike or spare to parry it, either the rules can allow the mate to be blocked or the game to end.
It would attract some attention by onlookers who may have little or no knowledge of chess and a good way for the team members to tell others about the game and fun to play it.
hi kindrespiritks! Welcome back! 😉
Yes, I think they have fun too! your idea sounds great! 😉