Chessboxing: The Ultimate Clash of Brains and Brawn at Gleason’s Gym
Chess Meets Boxing: The Rise of Chess Boxing in Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY — On April 18, the iconic Gleason’s boxing gym in Dumbo buzzed with excitement as the inaugural Interclub chess boxing event kicked off, showcasing a unique blend of intellect and athleticism. Among the competitors was 26-year-old architect Max Medley, who found himself in a fierce sparring session that tested both his mental acuity and physical endurance.
Chess boxing, a sport that alternates between rounds of chess and boxing, has been gaining traction among a diverse group of professionals looking for a new challenge. Medley, a self-proclaimed superior chess player, entered the ring with a strategy: “I just need to play better chess than you,” he recalled, despite facing a more skilled fighter who “came out swinging.”
After enduring a tough boxing round, Medley emerged victorious, achieving checkmate despite the bruises he wore like badges of honor. “It was very difficult,” he admitted, showing up to work the next day with the marks of his battle.
This hybrid sport, which requires no prior experience in either discipline, is rapidly attracting a growing community. Classes at Gleason’s, in partnership with Chessboxing NYC, combine high-intensity cardio, technical boxing training, and strategic chess drills every Sunday morning. For just $40, participants can engage in this unique workout that promises both physical and mental challenges.
The format is simple yet exhilarating: competitors alternate between six rounds of chess and five rounds of boxing, each lasting three minutes. Victory can be achieved through knockout, checkmate, or time forfeit, making each match a test of both brawn and brains.
While Medley believes boxing plays a crucial role in the outcome—jokingly comparing it to a hypothetical match between boxing legend Mike Tyson and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen—Alex Selden, co-founder of Chessboxing NYC, argues that chess often dictates the match’s direction. “I would say 70% of matches end with checkmate or losing on time,” he explained, emphasizing the need for chess players to be competent enough in boxing to avoid early knockouts.
The sport’s origins trace back to a 1992 comic by French graphic novelist Enki Bilal, but it gained real traction in 2003 when Dutch performance artist Iepe Rubingh staged the first live chess boxing match in Berlin. Selden, who first encountered the sport in 2013, saw its potential in New York City, a place renowned for both boxing and chess.
After the pandemic, Selden dedicated six months to honing his boxing skills while establishing a chess club to bridge the two worlds. Today, NYC boasts three major chess boxing clubs, each attracting an eclectic mix of participants from various professional backgrounds.
“Being just fit is overrated, being the smartest is overrated. Being good at both is fun,” said co-founder Cassandra Angelini-Vazquez. She noted that the sport has drawn a significant number of women, who often find the combination of chess and boxing more accessible.
However, mastering chess boxing is no easy feat. Medley balances his training with weekend chess tournaments and early morning boxing sessions, emphasizing the mental strain of switching between the two disciplines. “You’d be surprised how much your chess ELO drops after one boxing round,” he remarked.
Despite concerns about head trauma and the inherent contradictions of combining a brain sport with a contact sport, Selden assures that safety is a top priority. “This is real boxing, this is real chess. There’s no gimmick about it,” he stated.
As chess boxing continues to grow in popularity, Selden hopes to legitimize the sport within New York’s strict combat sports scene, aiming for regular competitions and the potential for more clubs to emerge in the Tri-State area. “There are a lot of possibilities,” he concluded, as participants at Gleason’s prepared for their next round of this exhilarating and unconventional sport.