Chessboxing.

The rules are simple: six rounds of speed chess interlaced with five three-minute rounds in the ring. Each competitor has 12 minutes in total on the chess timer. Victory is by knockout, checkmate or resignation, or failing any of those, by points-based scoring system.

If it sounds surreal, it is to a certain extent. But it is growing in popularity, particularly in Germany, eastern Europe, and Russia.

Yeah … you especially need to watch out for the female Russian chessboxers …

The game takes some special strategies.

“The problem is adrenaline,” he says. “It can bring you to the point of overestimating positions. After the first boxing round, don’t make fast moves – try to slow down. And try to make the last move before the boxing so your opponent has to make the first move afterward.”

(via GeekPress)