Chessboxing

Combining two of my favorite human activities, chessboxing matches two opponents taking turns in the ring and in the checkered board. Yes, this is a real sport brought to you by Russians.

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.

It is a battle of intellectual stamina while you brain gets pummeled. It is a challenge of keeping your body ready to snap a punch after you have been concentrated on chess.

Not to be confused with Battle Chess Karate, which is to chessboxing what WWE is to boxing.