#Festival

PODCAST EP130: The Minotaur

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What is it like to fight a grandmaster? Find out in this episode of the chessboxing podcast with Matthew ‘The Minotaur’ Coldwell.

As the WCBA British Champion the Minotaur rightly felt obliged to take on all comers. The has watched Simon Williams on youtube for several years and he was the inspiration behind Matt’s own aggressive and spine-tingling chess game. Is there an unwillingness to take risks for some of the top players and is this born out of the knockout tournament format? You only need to lose once in a tournament to be knocked out. Matt’s is a counter style, bringing the chaos against those who try to minimise the risk and maximise their control in a game. Was chessboxing the leveller against Williams who blundered his queen, would Matt have had a chance in a straight game of chess against Simon.

Preparation for the fight included some combinations he hopped to deploy in the boxing to unsettle Simon. He was also able to take advantage of the resource call OpeningTree. He was able to use some 13,800 of Simon’s games playing black to form his strategy for the bout. Simon’s opening allowed him to play the reverse Leela Gambit meaning by move four he would be out of book, hoping that this would slow Simon down. However, Simon was able to transition onto theFrench defence. Matt didn’t want to play his usual Milner-Barry gambit which he played against David Jarmany because Simon has written a course on this line! Matt’s chess coach, Nino Khomeriki, suggested a line which they ended up playing French Defense Nimzowitsch Gambit which did slow Simon down.

Simon’s speed was unexpected and he managed to catch Matt with a speedy jab; however, Matt noticed that he wasn’t committing to every shot meaning that the threat carried was less than Matt expected. This gave him the confidence to open up and step forward to dominate the boxing rounds. Matt was landing several body shots with Simon’s high guard but the jury is still out as to whether this slowed Simon down. Matt was able to punch around Simon’s guard to achieve a knock down in the first round of boxing, Simon dropping his guard to throw an uppercut.

The clock started to concern Matt during the second chess round and Matt missed a chance to develop his knight which handed Simon a small advantage. He also missed the back rank check which would have been avoided had his knight been developed or had he moved his queen to the king side. Not only did Matt not see the back rank check, nor did Gavin, nor did commentator and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni! When Simon played the back rank check Matt believed it was checkmate and you could see it on his face. However, there was a way out, losing his rook allowing his queen to defend the check. SHOCK, two moves later Simon blunders his queen! This handed the advantage back to Matt but could he convert?

The second round of boxing resulted in Simon breaking his nose is a dramatic and gritty performance we managed to continue despite this injury. Unbeknownst to Matt Simon had broken his nose 3 or 4 weeks ahead of the bout. Matt had his own injury, smashing his thumb whist delivering an overhand right. The pod pays tribute to how tough Simon showed himself to be, as well as his technical ability.

The issue that Matt had on the chess was Simon’s speed of calculation and his pawn centre. Although Matt identified the knight fork he didn’t want to bring back his queen and lose momentum. Ultimately this resulted in a dramatic knight fork which allowed Simon to capture Matt’s queen and ended the chess as a contest.

The pod touches on the other bouts at the event including a second round knockout crowning Dymer ‘Beast of Peace’ Agasaryan as WCBA European Heaveyweight Champion. Simon would love to fight again and would like to give Matt a shot at a rematch – ‘any time, anywhere‘ is the cry from Matt. Matt and Simon played some great chess with a pint after the show which saw Matt get a draw out of Simon.

Shout out to Wildcraft Brewery who ran the bar as well as Worstead Estate.

Season’s Beatings 24 will be on the 7th of December so follow us on social media for announcements about tickets.

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PODCAST EP129: Trevor ‘Mr Beef’ Onyango⁠

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CHESSBOXING FESTIVAL – Watch Simon Williams fight for the WCBA British Heavyweight Title this July: https://rb.gy/qtmd4h

This week’s podcast features the effervescent Trevor ‘Mr Beef’ Onyango⁠. Let’s talk about beef baby, all kinds of beef including that between Trevor and his opponent Andrew ‘ThePawnSlayer’ Smith.

Why is he called Mr Beef, it’s not that complicated. Trevor is looking forward to some beef after training, Saturday morning at Islington Boxing Club. He has been doing a lot of sparring and getting in touch with his body ahead of the Chessboxing Festival on the 5th & 6th of July. Trevor is looking forward to the ‘vibes’ on the farm as he understands there will be some Wagyu beef.

Trevor works in a law centre and loves taking on dastardly landlord, he is the right place with many a landlord in the chessboxing cohort. There is nothing Trevor likes nothing more than bullying a landlord, he doesn’t eat beef at work but he does love creating beef with landlords.

What is Mr Beef’s top beef; beef ribs, burgers or steak – it’s a close call. Trevor’s intro song is called ‘Mr Beef’ by Ed Montana, he hopes to arrive on horse back to the bout. He is also looking forward to the Dele vs Dymer fight – two great fighters. He doesn’t think Simon Williams has much of a chance against Matt Coldwell – you can find out on the 6th of July!

Shout out to Homero who is flying out from Sao Paulo a long with someone from the US, it will truly be an international event.

Find out which chocolate bar is the best for Mr Beef?

Andrew’s message for Mr Beer was ‘or is it Mr Chicken?!!?!?!!!’ Find out what Mr Beef has to say about that!

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PODCAST EP128: The Pawn Slayer

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CHESSBOXING FESTIVAL – Watch Simon Williams fight for the WCBA British Heavyweight Title this July: https://rb.gy/qtmd4h

Andrew is a national instructor for FIDE and teaches the under 9s in Hertfordshire. One of his prodigies is only 7 years old competing in the terra-final, he entered at only 6, playing in the under 9s. He can’t quite beat Andrew yet!

Andrew trains with Nick Cornish, legendary chessboxer who goes to the same club as Andrew. He is putting Andrew through is paces including sparring with Gerard ‘Ripper’ Reilly.

Andrew is fighting Trevor ‘Mr Beef’ Onyango who has been working hard and has already made weight. Andrew’s ELO is 1850, slightly better than Trevor but comparable whereas his fight with the Berserker was more one-sided on the chess. However, the Berserker was much more dangerous on the boxing and he tried to stay out of range and rely on his chess. He didn’t want to get caught by the Berserker rolling hook combination. He’s going to deploy the same tactics against Mr Beef. How did Andrew become the ‘Pawn Slayer’ and what does that mean for Mr Beef.

Norfolk is one of the sunniest parts of the UK and the chessboxing will be in a traditional Norfolk brick barn. There is also a chance to play Grandmaster Simon Williams at the festival. Andrew is in the same weight category, comment if you’d like to see Andrew take him on!

The pod discusses who will win out in the headline bout and how Matt Coldwell manage to obtain the title in his fight with David ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Jarmany. Also, Shayan ‘Shah’ Zarein Dolab vs Aaron Kollner, a recent fight in Cologne bringing the WCBO Middleweight title back to the UK for the first time.

What is Andrew’s favourite chocolate bar? And his message for Mr Beer, or is it Mr Chicken?!!?!?!!!

OFFICIAL CHESSBOXING MERCHANDISE | Get you official chessboxing merch: https://chessboxing.shop

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 EP127: Martin Neu

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CHESSBOXING FESTIVAL – Watch Simon Williams fights for the WCBA British Heavyweight Title this July: https://rb.gy/qtmd4h

Martin was heavily involved in a chessboxing show in Cologne, Germany a couple of weeks earlier as the arbiter of what was a very successful event. Shout out to Denno and his team who put on a great show which saw Shayan ‘Shah’ Zarein Dolab we the WCBO middleweight title.

Martin is only 19 and has just completed his exams in Germany – time to celebrate! When he finishes his exams he hopes to study sport in Cologne. Luna is Martin’s cat, a British short hair, nice. He also runs marathons so he is super fit. His ELO is around 2000, he is a mobile technical and fit boxer just like his opponent Oliver and it will be the first time for Martin in the UK with his brother and cornerman. Unfortunately, Marin had to get a visa, don’t mention the ‘B’ word!

Magnus Carlsen was lucky enough to meet Martin a few months ago at a freestyle chess 960 chess tournament where they demonstrated chessboxing. He lost against Caruana but was able to have a long chat with him over dinner. Chessboxing is already opening doors for Matin who has his sights set on being a chessboxing champion.

Martin believe that social media is the route to making chessboxing a mainstream sport. Can you communicate the excitement of chessboxing in a live stream? Martin make the astute point that they are different experiences, similar to watching football on the TV or in a stadium are different.

Should out to Matt Thomas the The Big Greek as well as the Ginger GM

OFFICIAL CHESSBOXING MERCHANDISE | Get you official chessboxing merch: https://chessboxing.shop

@TheBigGreek @movingwithmat @GingerGM @ChessboxingCologne

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