Chessboxing is a relatively new sport that combines the physicality of boxing with the mental strategy of chess. It was first introduced by Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh in 1992, but its origins can be traced back to a story about a French artist named Enki Bilal.
In Bilal’s graphic novel “Froid Équateur,” a character named Killyman engages in a sport called “tchess-boxing,” which involves alternate rounds of chess and boxing. This concept inspired Rubingh to create a real-life version of the sport, which he called “Chessboxing.”
The first Chessboxing event was held in Berlin in 2003 and was an instant success. Since then, the sport has grown in popularity, with clubs and competitions springing up around the world.
The Chessboxing World Championship was first held in Amsterdam in 2005 and has since become an annual event. The championship consists of 11 rounds, with six rounds of chess and five rounds of boxing. The player who either wins by knockout or checkmate, or who has the most points at the end of the game, is declared the winner.