Main content

The creation of chessboxing

Jean-Louis Veenstra, who fought Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh at the first World Chessboxing Championship in Amsterdam, describes how his friend and opponent came up with the sport.

In 2003, Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh, came up with the idea of combining two of his passions – 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)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 20 Nov 202303:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 18 Nov 202305:50GMT
  • Sat 18 Nov 202318:50GMT
  • Sat 18 Nov 202319:50GMT
  • Sun 19 Nov 202300:50GMT
  • Sun 19 Nov 202304:50GMT
  • Mon 20 Nov 202300:50GMT
  • Mon 20 Nov 202303:50GMT

Olympic history

Olympic history

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness Films

Sporting Witness Films

Watch sporting heroes tell their stories of astonishing achievement

Podcast