(no subject)

[desh]

How weird is too weird? How freaky too freaky? At what point does charm call out for ridicule? These are the questions that arise when considering the new "sport" of chessboxing. . . .

Two competitors face each other in 11 alternating rounds, six of chess, five of boxing. A bout begins with chess, which is played on a board placed directly in the middle of the ring. Each round of chess lasts four minutes. After each chess round, the bell sounds, and workmen remove the chessboard for a two-minute round of boxing, the gloves go back on, the punching recommences. Participants win by way of knockout, checkmate, referee's decision, or if his opponent exceeds the allotted total of 12 minutes for an entire match on the chessboard. Those are the basics, but they do little to answer the overriding question: Why?

Comments

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

Wow. abuse for the brain *and* the body. Who's up for a competition?

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

I just read the whole article. That's actually really really cool. I like his comment at the end about boundaries.

[eboniorchid.livejournal.com]

Well that's certainly an innovative activity. I wonder if other mind/body sport combinations are on the way. I mean, I would totally be down for some head-to-head sudoku meets singles tennis in "sudokutennis" or something.

[conana.livejournal.com]

I'm reminded of Niven's Achilles' Choice, where the olympic requirements are along the lines of "defend a dissertation, and compete in two sports." I'm also minded to say something about coupling an absurdly stylized wargame with an absurdly stylized version of fighting, except that I can't think of a boardgame that would be better.

[ulicqel.livejournal.com]

isnt that every game of risk or monopoly ever played? Its starts out as a strategy game, and degenerates into fistfights and calling your girlfriend a cheating whore.

[desh]

Sounds like a healthy relationship.