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Sporting Witness, Sporting Witness, The creation of chessboxing

Sporting Witness

Sporting Witness

The creation of chessboxing

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November 18, 2023

9 minutes

Available for over a year

In 2003, Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh, came up with the idea of combining two of his ions – chess and boxing. Using the cerebral strategy of chess along with the physicality of boxing, the winner is decided by either a checkmate or knockout.

Ashley Byrne speaks to Jean-Louis Veenstra, who fought Rubingh at the inaugural World Chessboxing Championship in Amsterdam.

This is a Made in Manchester production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: Ricky Rock and Jack Page in the ring during the Chessboxing 2012 Season Finale in London. Credit: Getty Images)