When there are 10,000 screaming fans in the stands and half a million more watching from home, the excitement of the moment is hard to escape. Our own Andrew McGregor was the referee at Ludwig Ahgren’s Mogul Chessboxing Championship—the most watched chessboxing event to date!

Since you’re already on this website you’ll probably know that chessboxing is that wonderfully strange collision of brute force and brainpower. It has been around for about two decades, originating from the mind of performance artist Iepe Rubingh and inspired by a French sci-fi comic Froid Équateur by Enki Bilal.

Between Punches and Pawns

If you’ve never witnessed chessboxing before, here’s how it works: two competitors face off in alternating rounds of blitz chess and boxing. The only way to win? Knock out your opponent physically or mentally—via checkmate. It’s brutal, bizarre, and brilliant.

But what made this night different from other events wasn’t just the format—it was the audience.

The Power of the Stream

Ludwig accomplished a broadcast phenomenon. With his YouTube megaphone and flair for spectacle, he drew in a crowd that might never have cared about chess or boxing alone. He introduced “Smash Boxing” to a global audience, staged slap-fighting showdowns, and brought in creators who could barely tell a knight from a bishop. And somehow, it worked.

Why This Matters

Influencer boxing has already proven that spectacle sells. But chessboxing? It adds an intellectual twist that makes it more than just a circus act. It’s a test of the whole human system—mind and muscle, nerves and nuance.

And perhaps more importantly, it’s fun.

That night at the Galen Center felt like the sport’s viral moment because it belonged to the internet generation. Ludwig knew his audience, and he served them something fresh: a spectacle with stakes, humor, and genuine athletic ambition.

We were delighted to be of service in the event and are looking forward to future things.

-The LA Chessboxing Team-