#Chess

PODCAST EP119: Minotaur vs Demontime

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

SOLD OUT FOLLOW US FOR RESALE | Oktoberfist | 7th October | Watch Live Stream SUBSCRIBE HERE

Both Matt ” Minotaur” Colderwell and Dashiell “Demontime” Shaw had their first fight in March this year and Matt will be headlining on the next show, Oktoberfist 23.

Matt ” Minotaur” Colderwell has already won a massive trophy beating 72 entrance in his local chess tournament. He is hoping to add the WCBA British Heavyweight title belt to his trophy cabinet. Dashiell “Demontime” Shaw joins the pod from sunny Cornwall with a glass on red, enjoying a well earned rest after his victory over Matt in the last event.

Matt is a technician producing high-end audio equipment for the rich and famous. Dash is a civil servant in the department of leveling up. Did Demotime live up to his name, how quickly was he moving his pieces? During their chess game Matt was attacking down the king side but the break eventually came on the queen side. Matt missed a chance to bring his knight into a better position after an initial retreat. He was unable to cause Dash many practical problems and the passive nature of his play allowed Dash to move rapidly and dominate the game. You can see the whole game on the chessboxing database HERE.

In preparing for the bout Matt and Dash played each other twice resulting in a win each. Dash praises Matt’s blitz game and as someone who knows his theory. Listen hard chess nerds, the chat moves into overdrive – discussions of the
Ulvestad Variation, reverse Venco, Ruso gambit and the Benoni.

Dash doesn’t believe that the boxing impacted his chess but he did suffer from pre-bout nerves. Playing chess in the ring was a daunting prospect, but once he made it pasts his intro and off the stage his nerves melted away and he was able to focus on the chess. He even enjoyed Matt’s ring walk.

Matt appeared to be a natural showman and admits that it was the most fun part of the evening. Matt was trying to be as terrifying as possible to undermine Dashiell’s confidence but it only made him stronger, rising to the occasion in a big way. Dash’s confidence was so high in fact, we saw him doing a head wobble in the second round of boxing.

Matt’s boxing was active with good variation in what he was throwing but Dash seemed to weather the storm well. Dash was worries about Matt’s reach advantage and planned to cover up, keep a high guard and allow Matt to throw the majority of punches, counting with an overhand. Round 2; Matt started throwing more to the body, under Dash’s high guard. Matt landed a sweet uppercut resulting in a grunt from Dash following which he didn’t walk back to the correct corner. Matt was waiting for Dash to drop the ball in the chess but it never happened.

Dash did manage to give Matt a leg wobble and one point but could follow up to press his advantage. There was goading on both sides, Matt smashing his gloves together after each overhand from Dash.

It was a complete chessboxing bout, the intros were great, the chess was high level and the boxing was entertaining. Dash manages to catch the Ruth vs Danlie fight which saw them trading a lot of punches. Dash was supporting Gerry but he met his match against Maarten. Shayan went down to Andre and it was a shame it finished so quickly with quite a cheap tactic in the end. Andre was able to get a lot of activity on the board and made it very difficult for Shayan who wasn’t able to make his good start in the boxing count.

Shout out to Dele Martins who cornered Dash and is fighting on our next show on the 7th of October. Dash was also greatfull for advise from cornerman Ralph. Ray Barrow and Caz from his local boxing gym trained Matt even though they had no idea what was happening in the chess. Dash mentioned how effective their advise was given how hard he found the second round.

Matt’s favourite chocolate is Montezuma dark chocolate and also a Boost – absolute filth. No chocolate for Dash, he’s maxing out on the sea food down on Cornwall…

Subscribe to our Youtube channel and watch all the fights: https://www.youtube.com/chessboxing

Chessboxing Classes: https://chessboxingnation.com/classes

Get your tickets for our next show HERE.

#chessboxing #chess #boxing #Finland #nordicchessboxing #chessboxingnation #event #entertainment #battle #fighters #competition #fight #fitness #nolimit #motivation #training #knockout #strategy #box #boxeo #checkmate #boxfit #highlights #king #champion #winner #chessboard #chessplayer #berserker

PODCAST EP118: Maarten ‘Machine’ Kamerling

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

SOLD OUT FOLLOW US FOR RESALE | Oktoberfist | 7th October | Watch Live Stream SUBSCRIBE HERE

The podcast catches up with Maarten ‘Machine’ Kamerling following his victory in London in March. Is he the nicest guy in Chessboxing?

Maarten is fresh from a sketchy club in Amsterdam, showing his friends from Canada what the city has to offer. Was Maarten’s friend even more relaxed that than even him? The pods assesses whether or not Maarten is the most relaxed guy in chessboxing and how stressed Gavin was at the event in March. The fight was Maarten’s first experience of London and the first chess boxing show he has seen or been to in London even though he was made aware of chessboxing via London Chessboxing. Even thought he as the outsider from the Netherlands everyone made him feel right at home.

How do you engender a accepting and welcoming culture in a sport like chessboxing? From Tim Woolgar to a natural filter that mean only a certain type of openminded person is likely to attend a chessboxing event of session. How does Maarten see chess boxing develop in the Netherland? He is organising a fight in Amsterdam in September so watch out for information about that.

Maarten is a freelance marketeer for international businesses including handwriting robots?!! There is a huge market available for chessboxing and the pod talk about the LA and how entertaining it was. Maarten was a boxing referee for some of the bouts. Ludwig Ahgren produced the show and he was able to keep the show fast moving and engaging at all times. Matt Thomas was a commentator on the LA show and Maarten could be commentating in Amsterdam as well as possibly fighting.

What was it like to be part of the LA chess boxing production? Maarten arrived jet lagged and was shocked a seeing people doing meth on the subway! The whole show was incredible and over the top, bigger, better and more outrageous than anything else. The arena was huge, at the Galen Centre with massive screens and a huge audience on line.

The pod goes on to talk about Maarten’s fight with Gerry Anderson which is posed on www.chessboxing.info. Maarten was relaxed going into the middle game but lost his rook and was annoyed with himself not Gerry going into the boxing with an aggressive facial expression to match. There are a few other boxers who have a very angry face whilst boxing including Mark “Essex Bomb” Sidwell. Because of the chess he had to come out strong in the boxing to ensure that he got the win. Gerry is a tough guy and he’s from Glasgow, one of the toughest parts of the UK. Gerry was understandably disappointed that the fight was stopped but it seems that most people agree that it was the right decision.

The pod reminisces about Horse Attack’s outing in London where he took on accomplished chessboxer Nikita “The Razor”. Both fighter showed exceptional boxing skills, Sakari going down on the board via checkmate in the end. Maarten is fighting in Paris and looking forward to seeing Gui deliver another event. Maarten was ribbing Gui at the LA event asking if he was taking notes. Maaten may or may not be coming out to Aqua’s Barbie Girl.

Where did the chant of “Chess, chess, chess” come from? It’s now being hear at different chessboxing event and UFC apparently. Who is the Berserker and why is he like he is, come and body paint the Berserker at our next event!

CBN are back at The Dome on the 7th of October with two Norwegian celebrities including Birk Rudd, an olympic gold medalist. Birk may be more chilled than even Maarten. CBN are looking to do something with Nordic Chessboxing and planning an event in 2024.

What us Maarten’s training regime, how does he manage to maintain such a physique? Find out on the pod… also what is his favourite chocolate bar? What does Maarten like about London and Britain?

A big thank you to Maarten for fighting on the show and we hope to see him again soon.

Shout out to Matt Thomas and Nordic Chessboxing!

Subscribe to our Youtube channel and watch all the fights: https://www.youtube.com/chessboxing

Chessboxing Classes: https://chessboxingnation.com/classes

Get your tickets for our next show HERE.

#chessboxing #chess #boxing #Finland #nordicchessboxing #chessboxingnation #event #entertainment #battle #fighters #competition #fight #fitness #nolimit #motivation #training #knockout #strategy #box #boxeo #checkmate #boxfit #highlights #king #champion #winner #chessboard #chessplayer #berserker

PODCAST EP117: The Whole Ruth

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

TICKETS ON SALE | Oktoberfist | 7th October: TICKETS HERE.

This week the pod is joined by Ruth “Insanitea” Slattery and Richard “Berserker” Evans-Lacey. Originally Ruth’s ring name was going to be “Ruth, the whole Ruth and nothing but the Ruth” but it was deemed to be too much of a mouthful.

We learn how other combat sports have a ring girl but in chessboxing we have a ring piece, the Berserker! Ancient chess sets like the Lewis chessmen used to have a berserker in the position of the rook today. A berserker was a type of crack viking warrior that uses to charge into battle wearing nothing than animal firs. They would work themselves into a frenzy by consuming magic mushrooms before battle. That’s wear the word berserk comes from.

Chessboxing is a lot more intense when you are in the moment. Although it looks relatively straightforward from the outside but is a totally different experience in first person. Ruth managed to get a standing 8 count until Jack, Ruth’s coach told her to “F*$ing hit her!” Ruth was thinking about the boxing whilst playing chess which broke down her concentration. It took a while her muscle memory to kick in.

Richard was fighting Andrew “The Pawn Slayer” Smith who was a much better chess player. Andrew gives chess lessons in the training session which give an idea of the gap in ability. Richard opened with the London System in an attempt to make the chess game as boring as possible. However, Andrew managed to off-foot him with his first move.

Ruth suggested that the chess commentators should have to do a round of chessboxing so that they perhaps aren’t so damming in their comments. Although the commentators were not impressed with Richard’s chess, importantly he didn’t mess up and was able to play through to lose on time. He managed two and a half rounds of chess and two rounds of boxing which he was very pleased with. Where was Richard’s speciality hook flurry? Apparently Andrew simply moved out of the way before it could be deployed.

The pod discussed the optics of the first fight, what a great way to start the show. It is agreed that Matthew “The Minotaur” Coldwell is a total legend and loved the event, he can’t wait to fight again. His opponent Dashiell “Demontime” Shaw was nervous before the fight but clearly enjoyed himself. Richard talks candidly about his facing up to the challenge of a physical fight, something he has carried with him for several years. Richard was able to prove to himself that he can fight.

Richard and Andrew rehearsed their WWE style contretemps to set up the fight in the minds of the audience. Andrew had stolen the Berserker’s mushrooms and then provokes the fight by pouring the mushrooms on the floor.

Richard points out that Maarten “Machine” Kamerling was carrying a lot of hotness advantage – “Bloody hell, did you see his muscles!” It looks like Richard will have to get in the man-crush line behind Matt “Crazy Arms” Read. The worst thing about Maarten is that he’s not only talented and good looking but an incredibly nice guy.

The pod discusses what the different weight categories mean in terms of punching power and the dangers of boxing.

Congratulations to Andre “Glenzman” Glenzer, the new WCBA European Middleweight Champion. Commiserations to Shayan “Shah” Zarein Dolab who had the edge in the ring but wasn’t able to defend Andre’s king-side attack successfully in the chess. Andre flew to London in March 2020 only to contract covid meaning he was unable to fight. His previous fight was won in the first round of chess so it was fantastic to see him finally take to the ring. The pod also discussed a new rule change meaning that there will always be at least one round of boxing in any bout.

Will they get in the ring again? Find out at the end of the pod what the Berserker and Ruth though of the replacement berserker (Gavin). This October we will have an Olympic gold medalist fighting on the show – get your tickets!

Shout out to Kate Gilbert.

Subscribe to our Youtube channel and watch all the fights: https://www.youtube.com/chessboxing

Chessboxing Classes: https://chessboxingnation.com/classes

Get your tickets for our next show HERE.

#chessboxing #chess #boxing #Finland #nordicchessboxing #chessboxingnation #event #entertainment #battle #fighters #competition #fight #fitness #nolimit #motivation #training #knockout #strategy #box #boxeo #checkmate #boxfit #highlights #king #champion #winner #chessboard #chessplayer #berserker

PODCAST EP116: Danlei Zhu

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

TICKETS ON SALE | Oktoberfist 23 | 7th October: TICKETS HERE.

Danlei “Pengting” Zhu talks about her victory in St Patrick’s Day Bash 23.

Danlei was born in China, brought up in Bristol and living in London across the river from Gavin in Canary Wharf. The podcast was recorded just after the London marathon and Ruth, Danlei’s opponent ran the marathon the year before – road work is how she stays fit. Danlei picked up an ACL injury so she swims to keep fit and loves her “bone conduction headphones” where she can listen to music while she swims.

Danlei is a metal trader in the city including precious metals such as gold. Sadly she doesn’t own any gold but she can give you tips on when to buy. The pair discuss the Brink’s-Mat robbery and how it relates to Canary Wharf and the docklands, much of which was developed using the stolen bullion. The heist took place in the 1980 when £26 million in gold was stolen form Heathrow airport, in fact, it was so much gold that as soon as it was stolen it was worth £27 million as the markets moved once the news was out. Although some of the gold was recovered most of it was laundered by purchasing the docklands around Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe. You can watch the dramatisation here on the BBC.

Danlei heard about chess boxing via a google search before heading down to Islington Boxing Club for a training session. Somehow Danlei managed to get onto a short film which won a Louise Theroux competition. Soon enough she found herself in a chessboxing event in front of one of the best chess boxing crowds around. Danlei found the waiting and build up more nerve racking than the actual fight. Luckily she was on first, along with her mates in the audience helped to settle the nerve.

The fight itself followed a well trodden path of initially good chess, with high intensity boxing rounds taking there toll on both players. Danlei wasn’t prepared for the loud music in headphones which she found distracting. The music is played in the headphones so that neither fighter can hear the commentators. The chess was very even, slow and attritional until the middle game when Ruth contrived to get her bishop trapped going a piece down. Danlei missed a rook on pre and the time pressure resulted in the last mistake of the game when Danlei was able to back rank Ruth. You can find the entire chess game at www.chessboxing.info.

During the boxing rounds Ruth did well to weather a flurry of combinations including a repeated shovel hook from Danlei which resulted in a standing 8 count. Danlei was dropping her left hand on occasion and Ruth was able to land several overhands. Both boxers had good punch volume, could Danlei go for 3 minute rounds next time? Maybe if she holds up on the beers and the burgers.

What is Danlei’s favourite chocolate bar? She has a soft spot for Tony’s Chocolonely – shout out to Tony!

Subscribe to our Youtube channel and watch all the fights: https://www.youtube.com/chessboxing

Chessboxing Classes: https://chessboxingnation.com/classes

Get your tickets for our next show HERE.

#chessboxing #chess #boxing #Finland #nordicchessboxing #chessboxingnation #event #entertainment #battle #fighters #competition #fight #fitness #nolimit #motivation #training #knockout #strategy #box #boxeo #checkmate #boxfit #highlights #king #champion #winner #chessboard #chessplayer #berserker