Each round on the chessboard is followed by a bout in the ring, and this London-based sport is now gaining in popularity.
“When somebody says, how do you win a chessboxing bout? I say checkmate or knockout. It’s very final, very definite, very black and white.”
Chessboxing started out with modest beginnings in front of small crowds ten years ago. Now it takes place in a dozen countries and attracts hundreds of spectators.
“I survived my school years without getting into any scraps and in adult life you try and avoid that,” says Matt, who also goes by the name Crazy Arms. “And I thought, you know what, this is going to be my only opportunity to get away with it.”
Aaron also follows Richard ‘The Razor’ Frazer as he prepares for a fight. He doesn’t think that being a smart guy and a tough guy should be different things.
“You have to be able to step up to both things,” he says. “It’s no good going in there and being able to just rely on boxing. If you don’t have the chess ability to match, then it doesn’t matter you’re going to lose.”
