Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules?
ChessBoxers alternate four-minute rounds of chess (the opponents chess clocks are set to 12-minutes each at the start of the contest) and three-minute rounds of boxing. There is a one-minute break in between each round. The contest can last up to 11 rounds, starting and finishing with chess. Each bout must end with a decisive result, there are no draws in ChessBoxing.
There are two referees at work, a chess referee and a boxing referee. The contest can be cut short during a chess round in three different ways. A competitor can win by checkmate or, if his opponents clock runs down to zero, by time penalty. Additionally if the chess referee feels a player is deliberately stalling for time by refusing to move a piece he will deliver a warning which if repeated can ultimately lead to disqualification (this is known as the "Zugzwang Rule" - in chess the term Zugzwang describes a situation where any move a player makes will only lead to a deterioration of his position).
The contest can also be decided during a boxing round in three different ways. Either by a knock-out, by disqualification or by throwing in the towel. Boxers score points in the normal way and in case of a stalemate draw in the final round of chess, the contest is decided on boxing points. If this is also a draw the contestant with the black pieces is the winner.
When was the first-ever ChessBoxing match and when was the WCBO founded?
The first official ChessBoxing fight ever held was the Middleweight World Championship between Iepe the Joker and Luis the Lawyer on the 14th of November 2003 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. Iepe the Joker won the match after a dramatic fight in the 11th and last round when Luis the Lawyer exceeded his time limit in chess. The WCBO was founded the same year.
What is the goal of the GBCBO?
Our primary objective is to promote ChessBoxing as a self-contained, internationally recognised athletic discipline. In addition, with backing from the WCBO, we also support initiatives for starting ChessBoxing clubs nationwide. We ultimately aim to see ChessBoxing recognised as the supreme discipline of the Olympic Games.
"Fighting is done in the ring, wars are waged on the board" - what does the ChessBoxing slogan mean?
In our ideal world, the best place for fighting is within the regulated confines of a boxing ring and the only acceptable place to wage war is across the chessboard.
How did the idea of ChessBoxing come about?
The idea originates from the graphic novel Le Froid Equateur (Cold Equator) by Enki Bilal. ChessBoxing was initially conceived by the Dutch artist IEPE as an experimental performance in which the themes of a healthy spirit in a healthy body and aggression management played a role. After just a short period of time, an opportunity arose to further develop the ChessBoxing concept into a serious sport in collaboration with experts from Berlin and the Dutch chess and boxing federations.
Who would compete in the ideal ChessBoxing contest?
Vitali Klitschko vs. Lennox Lewis. In a recent ESPN interview, Lennox Lewis expressed some interest and prior to the famous Heavyweight World Championship bout in Los Angeles in 2005, Vitali Klitschko offered to play a game of chess with Lennox Lewis before they entered the ring. Watch the video here
How many fights does the GBCBO hold each year?
The GBCBO will stage its first event in 2008 and then will be aiming to establish at least four events per year.
Can I participate in championship fights?
First you must meet the requirements for championship level competition. You must be an accomplished chess player with an ELO rating (the chess rating system devised by the Hungarian-born master Arpad Elo) of 1800 or higher. If you don’t have an ELO rating yet or any comparable ranking, our chess trainer will test your skills online. In addition you must be properly a trained boxer. Download the application form from the WCBO website, fill it out, and send it along with a picture of yourself to:contact@wcbo.org
Do you have to be a better chess player or a better boxer to be a good ChessBoxer?
You have to be proficient in both disciplines. You can’t rely on your strengths in just one discipline during a fight. The WCBO’s body of rules ensures that both disciplines can equally contribute to the outcome of a contest.
Can Women ChessBox?
Yes, it seems that women also love the combination of the two disciplines and more and more women have started training, although we have yet to see the first competitive bout between two women.