Chessboxing Tour 2008 Berlin
BERLIN CHESSBOXING TOUR
KICK OFF:
RUSSIA WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION!
The 19 year old challenger Nikolay ‚The Chairman’ Sazhin from Krasnojarsk in Siberia was able to force his strategic chess concept on the experienced world champion ‚Anti Terror’ Frank Stoldt and used his superior boxing skills to ram home the advantage.
After carefully approaching his opponent in the first round with a Slav defence Frank Stoldt took a heavy right hand to the chin in the following round which led to a standing eight count. Stoldt then showed all his experience from 3 title bouts and to recover and see out the next three rounds without slipping further behind.
At the beginning of the 5th however, the contest culminated at the chessboard. Sazhin took his time but far from being in trouble, the wily youngster merely lured Stoldt into a false sense of security. With his bishop in severe danger near the centre of the board Frank and adrenaline running high Stoldt made a horrible blunder, over-looking a concealed threat to his queen. Sazhin pounced, took the queen and with it victory. Realising the enormity of his mistake, Stoldt instantly resigned in utter self-disgust. The contrast between the victor and defeated champion could not have been more pro-nounced. Stoldt hung his head as if desperately seeking a hiding place somewhere under the glaring lights. In the Siberian corner, Sazhin leapt into the arms of his trainers and bounced around the ring, punching the air in delight.
Gianluca ‚Il Dottore’ Sirci the new discovery in the heavyweight.
In the second fight of the evening the encounter betweeen the Itali-an heavyweight pro-boxer and the English fighter Andrew ‚The Rocks’ Castello took place.
Here clear advantages for Costello in chess were expected but Gian-luca Sirci was able to defend well by a clever opening in the Sicilian Dragon Variation.
In the 4th boxing round Costello was given a warning for an appa-rent low-blow, the round going to Sirci on all four judges cards as a consequence. Afterwards Sirci made a severe mistake at the chess-board and Costello gained a decisive lead. From here on it was a metter of time before Costello claimed the match but Sirci had other ideas.
In the 8th round Sirci summoned all his considerable ring-craft and experience and swung hard at Costello who moved in to a clinch. With seconds to go in the round Costello then pushed Sirci who fell through the ropes. Sirci's shoulder was injured in the fall and refe-ree Holger Prokot, had no option but to disqualify Costello after the first deduction of points in round 4.
A rematch in London is already planned.
Piotr Pukos wins the first fight in the tournament of the International German Championship.
The Pole Piotr Pukos obtained the highly competitive victory against Sascha Wandkowsky on time penalty in the 7th round. Wandkowsky clearly had the upper hand in the boxing part of the contest but fai-led to recover from and uncharacteristic and early blunder on the chessboard.