This is an extract from the Suites Culturelles cultural analysis blog – “in Montréal, Berlin, and beyond.” Click Here For Full Story and more pics.
“Battle of the Cities – Press Conference: Last week club members from Berlin and London met to compete in a Battle of the Cities. At the press conference two days before the fight, Tim Woolgar, the head of the London Chessboxing Club, complained about a bad reception in Berlin (no car waiting at the airport, no tea, no warm welcome in Berlin). Iepe Rubingh replied that tea shall be served after London is defeated, predicting 3-0 victory for Berlin. In response, Tim Woolgar presented an enlarged photograph from 1978 to the press, which allegedly proved that chessboxing was actually invented in London and not in Berlin. Before Iepe Rubingh had a chance to respond to the provocation, Tim Woolgar walked out in the middle of the press conference, causing for some stir in the press corps.”
It’s another world first for London Chessboxing with the announcement of the must see inaugural UK Women’s Championship bout between Manchester’s Emma Richardson and Exeter’s Kath Dodson at The Scala, 10 September 2011.
Click here to download media release: Emma Richardson Vs Kath Dodson
London Chessboxing will be checking the London premiere of the new sports documentary ‘Bobby Fischer Against The World’ next Tuesday 5th July.
Grandmaster Nigel Short will play a 20 board simultaneous display (opponents include snooker champ Steve Davis) at the event at the Rich Mix cinema. The display will be followed by the film screening and a panel discussion with Nigel, CJ de Mooi, Dominic Lawson and chessboxing commentator extraordinaire, the ‘Incomparable’ Malcolm Pein.
The London Chessboxing team emerged victorious from a thrilling encounter with Berlin Chessboxing Club in front of a fiercely partisan home crowd at the Tape Club in the heart of the German capital. (Photos: Robert Carus)
Team London Chessboxing: Tim Bendfield, Tim Woolgar (manager), Dani Lizarraga, Nick Cornish, Rajko Vujatovic (chess coach)
First up for London Tim Bendfield put in a great shift against his slightly heavier opponent Alexander Troll. The Berliner threatened to overwhelm Bendfield in the early moments but Bendfield stuck to his task gamely. As the bout wore on Bendfield’s superior chess ability began to take a psychological toll as Troll’s aggression melted away. Growing in confidence Bendfield asserted his authority and Troll eventually threw in the towel at the end of round round 7 rather than face further punishment. London 1-0 Berlin.
The second bout pitted Nils Becker the highly rated Berliner against Nick “Showstopper” Cornish. Becker looked confident coming into the ring and after the opening round his swagger seemed justified, thanks to a significant time advantage, albeit in a level position. As the second round got under way it became clear the German was not going to have it all his own way. Cornish opened up Becker’s defence time and again, the Berliner seeming to have little answer to the Englishman’s booming straight rights over the top and to the body. The bout continued in this fashion with Becker increasing his time advantage during the odd rounds and Cornish battering his opponent during the evens. Becker absorbed a tremendous pounding with great bravery and with blood streaming from his face it looked odds on for a stoppage. There is no denying the size of Becker’s heart and when Cornish piled on the pressure in the closing minutes he simply gritted his teeth, and saw out the round. In the end Becker’s speedier chess-play decided the bout, Cornish running out of time in the ninth round. The crowd went wild, Berlin were back in the hunt. London 1-1 Berlin.
(top to bottom) Nils prepares to move, Nick’s speciality – the straight right to the body, dogged defence from Nils, Nick measures a right-hand shot
The third and final bout of the night, the Main Event, saw Berlin call on the services of Polish national team boxer Lukas “The Frog” Kosowski with a record of 80 bouts, 59 wins and 23 stoppages. For London, Daniel Lizarraga, out of Pamplona, Spain, stepped up to the mark. Lizarraga’s record of 5 bouts and 3 wins on points, made him the firm underdog in this deciding rubber. As the slightly built Lizarraga, weighing 75kg, entered the ring to a chorus of jeers, he looked to be giving away at least 5kg in weight to his bulked up opponent. At ringside the atmosphere was electric with the home fans seeming confident of victory in this first ever ‘Battle of the Cities’. But they reckoned without Lizarraga’s lightning wits and indomitable fighting spirit. The London-based fighter unleashed a machine-gun attack with the black pieces, almost immediately winning Kosowski’s kingside Knight and Rook. Perhaps sensing a quick KO was possible, Lizarraga brought the Black Queen into play at the end of the round, a hasty move he would come to regret. With Kosowski’s position looking shaky his only hope of victory at this stage was going to come from a stoppage and he looked every inch the man to do it. With his heavily muscled upper torso, furrowed brow and beautifully smooth carriage, Kosowksi stalked his opponent like the Terminator with toothache. There was no doubting the menace he carried in both hands. Lizarraga’s game-plan was simply to stay out of trouble and counter-attack wherever he could. It may not have been pretty but it was certainly effective. As the round continued Kosowski became increasingly frustrated by his inability to land a clean shot allowing Lizarraga to counter with left and right hooks to the Pole’s head.
(top) Lizarraga covers up (bottom) Kosowski seeks and opening
The third round started disastrously for the London chessboxer. With his Queen in the open Kosowski began a campaign of harrassment which quickly led Lizarraga into a dreadful blunder and the loss Black’s most powerful weapon with just a Bishop for compensation. Technically Black was still ahead on material thanks to his earlier kingside sortie but the outcome was back in the balance and the chance of a quick victory was gone. Lizarraga would have to face at least another two rounds of onslaught from the powerhouse, Kosowski. If the Spaniard felt daunted by the task ahead he gave no sign of it and continued to demonstrate the superb bravery, technique and fitness that have become familiar to London Chessboxing fans through his appearances in the British capital. For a moment it looked as though Kosowski and the Germans would have the last laugh but Lizarraga turned the bout on its head with a superb combination on the c-file bringing both rooks into play, supported by a central knight. White’s King had nowhere to go and despite a desperate attempt to stall for time Berlin’s fate was sealed. A famous victory to Lizarraga by checkmate in the 7th round. London 2 – 1 Berlin.
(top) Kosowski faces an impossible position on the board (bottom) A victorious Lizarraga sportingly acknowledges Kosowski’s performance
For Berlin Chessboxing, Iepe Rubingh accepted defeat graciously, only pleading for the opportunity of a return match in London in 2012, a plea which London Chessboxing President Tim Woolgar granted with alacrity, upon the condition that Rubingh himself (the reigning World Middlweight Champ) put his title on the line against London’s Matt ‘Crazy Arms’ Read. Rubingh agreed to the terms and the mouth-watering return engagement was settled. All that remained was for the two teams to down gloves and raise a few glasses in celebration and recognition of each other’s achievements. The trash-talking was done, the fighting was over and friendship blossomed once again between the members of the two oldest chessboxing cities in the world. Any thoughts of complacency amongst the Londoners were soon banished as GM Arik Braun, the latest member of the Berlin chessboxing team was on hand to take-on and beat all-comers, with consumate ease, in a series of light-hearted Blitz games stretching far into the night.
Arik Braun (right) demolishes all opposition at the after-party
A photo-story by Lucien Lung WATCH
Pictured (from left to right) Stewart Robinson Vs James Robinson chessboxing pioneers. Picture taken at the Samuel Montagu Boys Club, London – 1978.
Team London Chessboxing faces the Berlin Chessboxing Club in an inter-city tournament on Friday night at the Tape Club in Mitte. London chessboxers Nick Cornish, Daniel Lizzaraga and Tim Bendfield are aiming for a clean sweep of trophies.
London Chessboxing attended the DVD launch of “The Fighter” staged by Momentum Pictures at York Hall yesterday evening. This is one of the great boxing films, highly reccommended. No cliches in sight and the fight scenes are probably the most realistic ever filmed, made even more so by the use of actual HBO commentary. This is a must-see film for fight fans. It even includes a mention for Chessboxing from Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward. No kidding!
Mark Wahlberg (left) and Tim Woolgar “The Fighter” on DVD
Your next fix of chessboxing is in Berlin, Germany and it’s going to be a good one with London Chessboxing going head to head with our counterparts in the Berlin Chessboxing Club. These are the two original and longest running chessboxing outfits in the world and the rivalry is intense. Topping the bill will be London’s Nick Cornish vs Nils Bekker plus a full undercard.
Tickets are on sale now. The event is being staged at the excellent Tape Club near the Hauptbahnhof international station in central Berlin.
Tickets
Standing room €20 + ticket fees
Seats:
First row at ring €100 +ticket fees
Second row at ring €75 +ticket fees
Third row at ring €50 +ticket fees
Competition promoted by the World Chessboxing Organisation.
Click for Video
Lovely video of the March 2011 London Chessboxing International Tournament, originally broadcast on national TV in Brazil. Features Alan Riley’s crazy ring-walk, Marc Riley in X-ray Vision and lots more.
This ITN video report comes with one our favourite descriptions of the sport “Part physical, part intellectual, entirely mental”!
click on image for video
