Meet the New Chess Boxing Champion of the World

Attila Dimedici writes "A Russian man has just been crowned world champion in the sport of chess boxing. Apparently the idea originated in a French comic strip from the early '90s. In 2003 a Dutch artist decided to bring the 'sport' to life. The 'sport' is played by starting a chess match in the middle of a boxing ring. After four minutes, the chess board is cleared and the opponents box for three minutes. A match consists of six rounds of chess and five rounds of boxing. A match is decided by knockout, checkmate, or points."

I'd put money on the boxer any day

[piltdownman84]

Wouldn't this heavily favour brawn over brains? I mean any half decent bruiser could just avoid getting checkmated right away and then knock the nerd out in the first round.

Re:I'd put money on the boxer any day

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't see a problem. Fighers don't fight outside their class, so why would they do it when chess-boxing. Bruiser vs. nerd would be a very odd matchup. This is a game for intellectual pugilists.

Re:That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever hea

[Tom]

I don't think it's ridiculous at all. Anyone trained in any martial art (not just eastern, count boxing, fencing, etc. as well) will probably agree.

Keeping your senses and your ability to think during a fight is anything but trivial, and requires a lot of training.

Most regular people would probably have trouble just remembering how the pieces move after a few minutes of fighting, with all the adrenaline pumping and your whole body in "I have no time for thinking" mode.

Re:Nikopol Trilogy

[Zhe Mappel]

FYI to anyone who hasn't read it: the trilogy is good science fiction. Bilal's art is easily among the most memorable in comics, but I like his writing as well -- a rich, ironic feast.

Self desturcting sports

[Lazypete]

The funny thing about this sports is that a champion is bound to loose its title quickly, the more the champion boxe, the worst he must be getting at chess. Since after a year or two having your face punched turn your brain into molasses...

Re:Fucking Awesome

[Kintanon]

The UFC is not "Just Brute Force" you ignorant jackass. If that were the case Brock Lesnar would be destroying everyone and Sean Sherk would have torn BJ Penn apart for the lightweight title. Skill, strategy, the ability to think and act under pressure are all more important that brute force.

Please do not propagate ignorant stereotypes.

Re:That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever hea

[hey!]

I don't think it's ridiculous at all. Anyone trained in any martial art (not just eastern, count boxing, fencing, etc. as well) will probably agree.

Keeping your senses and your ability to think during a fight is anything but trivial, and requires a lot of training.

Most regular people would probably have trouble just remembering how the pieces move after a few minutes of fighting, with all the adrenaline pumping and your whole body in "I have no time for thinking" mode.

Perhaps ironically for a geek, I don't know what it's like to be good at chess, but I do know what it's like to be good at fighting.

A lot of intelligent people aren't good at fighting because they overanalyze a fight. It's helpful to watch other people fight and analyze, but in a fight you have to be in the moment. I knew an architect who was very physically powerful, but never able to fight well because he tried to think strategically during a fight. He was always thinking, if I do this, then he'll do that, then I'll do this etc. A cunning fighter is one who reacts in the moment, in a way that is both appropriate and unpredictable.

"Thinking" in a fight -- if it can be called that -- is not sequential, nor is it analytical. It's more wholistic and intuitive. Even a swift reasoner cannot project future scenarios fast enough to keep up with the present, and being in the moment is critical. The reason the average person can't remember the details of a fight is that he isn't paying attention. He's thinking about the past ("that punch hurt") or the future ("I'm going to get murdered.") An experienced fighter is aware of every detail without being stuck on any one.

Although I can't say from experience, I wonder if this means being good at chess isn't a little like being good at sparring. My faults as a chess player are like the faults of my architect friend as a fighter; although I have formidable analytical skills, they aren't a match for somebody who moves with the swift assurance of being familiar with the scenario. I spend too much time dealing with the shambles of my "strategy" to take advantage of the opportunities my opponent's moves create.

As far as silliness is concerned, all sports are silly if you look at them the right way. Chess and barehand fighting are individual sports pared down to the minimally interesting essentials: two individuals striving to gain advantage over each other. Perhaps arm wresting is more basic, but not sufficiently complex to invite tactical analysis.

In any case, Chess Boxing is clearly a sport tailor made for Russia.

Re:That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever hea

[Hork_Monkey]

That's just plain ridiculous to think that a punch or a kick cannot be used to defend yourself.

A punch, kick, eye gab, or even a sword has a practical defensive application given the right circumstances.

At least a boxer isn't shit out of luck if he leaves his pepper spray at home by accident.

Re:I'd put money on the boxer any day

[Temtongkek]

I have to disagree. There is a huge difference. Tactics would include 2-3-4-5 or so move combinations to lure your opponent into a situationally unsound position (for them), leaving you with an immediate advantage of some kind...be it territory, or dominating a certain square, pinning or trapping one of his pieces. Strategy would involve decisions that occur through the whole of the game, from the opening, to the middle and then to the end-game. These decisions often lead to a particular style of end-game, where the dominating strategist will hold the advantage in terms of how the game is brought to a close. Case in point - there is a HUGE difference in arranging a combination to use your knight and fork your opponent's king and queen (tactic!) and determining whether or not it would be wiser to trade down into bishop-of-opposite-color endgame (Strategy!) or maybe to create isolated, weak pawns on the enemy's kingside so you can build an advantage (passed pawn) and begin targeting that lone weakness. Yeah. The tactic can take a few moves. The strategy can take THE. WHOLE. GAME. ...and there's no difference there? Please. Go play real Chess. Go get lost in a series of combinations for an hour or two (yes, an hour or two... looking at the same position and trying to find the one, best, winning move) every day for the next 6-7 years and then come tell me there's no difference. This public service announcement has been brought to you by the letter "j".

Re:Your post is the most ridiculous thing I've hea

[Tom]

But punch strength doesn't determine most fights. A lot of fights are over before the first punch is thrown. And boxers learn one vitally important thing: To take a hit and go on.

I (remotely) know a guy who used to do professional boxing. He's in his 40s now. Some time recently a gang of early 20s made some rude comments about his wife on the street. He was in the middle of them and had the "lead" guy by the shirt before they were quite done. He had no fear and made it clear that if they wanted a fight, single or all at once, they could have it, right there and then. They backed off.

And that's something you learn in all fighting, whether it's sports, martial arts or self defense: To control your fear. And fear decides more fights than punches do.