Chess boxing, or chessboxing, is a hybrid sport that combines two traditional disciplines: chess and boxing.[1][2] Two combatants play alternating rounds of blitz chess and boxing until one wins by checkmate or knockout. It is also possible to win by time penalty as in normal chess, and by boxing decision if there is a draw in the chess round.[3]
Typically, events are held in a standard boxing ring using standard amateur boxing equipment and rules. The chess round is also played in the ring with the table, board, and seating on a platform being lifted in and out of the ring from the ceiling for each round.
The governing bodies of chessboxing are the World Chessboxing Association and the World Chess Boxing Organisation.[4]
Chessboxing was invented by French comic book artist Enki Bilal and adapted by Dutch performance artist Iepe Rubingh as an art performance[5][6] and has subsequently grown into a competitive sport.[7][8][9] Chessboxing is particularly popular in the United Kingdom, India, Finland, France,[10] and Russia.[11]