Iran vice champion in Chess Boxing Amateur World Championships

Iranian male chess boxers have placed second at the first edition of Chess Boxing Amateur World Championships in India and clinched the vice champion title, thanks to their outstanding performances at the prestigious competition.

Having struck two gold, one silver and one bronze medals, the Islamic Republic of Iran stood second in the tournament, the Martial Arts Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported on Saturday.

The first edition of Chess Boxing Amateur World Championships started at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra sports hall in Kolkata, India, on April 12, and concluded on April 15, 2017.

Chess boxing is a hybrid fighting sport that combines chess and boxing. The contests take on each other in alternating rounds of the cerebral board game and physical sport.

Dutch performance artist Iepe B. T. Rubingh is the founder of the sport. Chess boxing was initially an art performance but quickly turned into a fully developed competitive sport.

Chess boxing is particularly popular among Germans, the British, Indians and Russians.