Playing in the Chess Tennis World Championship: A Journey of Tennis, Chess, and Fun

Chess Tennis World Championship in Baden-Baden, Germany: A Unique Blend of Strategy and Skill

Last year, after reporting on five previous world championships, a news writer decided to finally play in one. The only problem? The extreme pressure and grind the players go through. Oh, and a small concern of about 500 missing rating points. Where did they go anyway?

So, the writer booked a ticket to Baden-Baden, Germany in August 2024 for the Chess Tennis World Championship. The qualification process was simple – just a 50 Euro fee.

Baden-Baden, known as a spa town with a mostly geriatric tourist base, made the writer feel young again. The tournament, organized by IM Jaroslav Srokovski, was the first to have an international player pool, dating back to 2015. Players from all over the world participated, making it a truly global event.

The format of the championship was unique – players competed in seven tennis matches on Saturday and seven games of chess on Sunday. The scores were combined, and the top four players advanced to the semifinals and finals, where they alternated between chess and tennis matches.

Despite struggling in the tennis matches, the writer managed to bounce back in the chess section, ending with a combined score of 8.0/14 and a tie for seventh place.

In the finals, GM Sebastian Mazé emerged victorious, claiming his fourth Chess Tennis World Championship title. The event concluded with Mazé buying a round of drinks for the French contingent and the writer, discussing plans for another chess tennis event in Bordeaux in 2025.

While the event didn’t inspire the writer to play more chess, it did lead to further travels and unique tennis experiences, including playing at a majestic court in the Swiss Alps.

Overall, the Chess Tennis World Championship in Baden-Baden proved to be a unique blend of strategy and skill, bringing together players from around the world for a one-of-a-kind sporting experience.