Original version

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Radio

World Service Radio

Sporting Witness

Podcasts

Factual: History

Sport

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

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

Sporting Witness: The creation of chessboxing

Magazines & Reviews

The creation of chessboxing

18/11/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, The creation of chessboxing

How Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh combined two of his passions – chess and boxing

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)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sporting Witness

The creation of chessboxing

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service

About BBC World Service