Possibly to confront criticism of boxing as a sport for brutish idiots, but more likely due to people just being plain weird sometimes, chess-boxing is enjoying a healthy existence. Played mostly in Germany, the sport actually has its origins with Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh who was inspired by the fictional writings of Enki Bilal – there’s a blinding pub fact for you.

A match consists of up to eleven rounds, alternating between boxing and speed chess. Winners may win by knockout, checkmate, judge’s decision or if the opponent’s twelve minutes of chess time elapses. If a player doesn’t make a move in the chess round they are given a warning by the referee and have to make a move within the next ten seconds of the next chess round. There is now a World Chess Boxing Organisation (WCBO) whose motto is, "Fighting is done in the ring and wars are waged on the board." Indeed. Watching a match is quite bemusing but strangely compelling and it is an interesting spectacle to witness at least once.

Written by  John Johnston.

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