Gianluca Sirci Crowned European Heavyweight Chess Boxing Champion

Italian chess boxer Gianluca “Il Dottore” Sirci was crowned Heavyweight Chess Boxing Champion of Europe last night when he beat British chess boxer Andy “The Rock” Costello in the ninth round.

The bout took place at North London’s Boston Dome at Tufnell Park, Costello made an impressive start and by all accounts was dominating the ring, but that changed when the gloves came off. Sirci took the advantage in the chess rounds, and Costello was left needing a knockout to win the fight. Eventually the Brit was forced to retire from the match when a checkmate finish was inevitable.

Costello is a 42 year old professional cage fighter from Exeter. This was his fourth chess boxing tournament, he’s suffered two earlier defeats due to disqualifications during the boxing rounds and one win by a checkmate at the chess board.

“One disqualification was for a low blow against tonight’s opponent and I really hoped to take revenge for that. The other was against Wolfram von Stauffenberg – the only surviving relative of the man who tried to assassinate Hitler. I fought him in Berlin so I never stood a chance.” Costello told The Independent.

The event was organised by the Great Britain Chess Boxing Organisation, who boast that chess boxing is the world’s fastest growing hybrid sport.

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