United Chessboxing

We bring together fighters, thinkers, and fans to grow the world’s most unique sport.

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Our team is committed to unifying the Chessboxing world through partnerships, regulation, and high quality content

origins

Our story begins with the origin of a sport.

The Origin of Chessboxing

Enki Bilal's comic inspired Iepe's creation of Chessboxing as a match alternating rounds between chess and boxing until checkmate or knockout, whichever comes first. In 2003, he hosted the first competition in Berlin, then began building a community around the idea of a quest to find the smartest, toughest person on the planet.

Spreading Across Continents

Chessboxing spread through Europe and Asia, then made its way to America in an unexpected way. Seeds for United Chesboxing were planted in 2018 by the first Team USA, Kevin Vaugh-Carber and Matt Thomas.

the story

The American Roots

A community in the west formed around the sport's collision between brain and brawn, attracting more curious fans. Early clubs in Los Angeles and New York were formed by Andrew McGregor and Jarrett Gaymon, respectively. After Iepe's death during the 2020 pandemic, United Chessboxing began to codify club creation and rule set sanctioning in the USA.

meet the Team

Matt "Matador" Thomas

Career

After a Chessboxing video found Matt in 2016, he reached out to Iepe to get involved, then later became the first American in history to compete in the Chessboxing World Championship, winning the 90KG weight division in Kolkata, India in 2018.

Voice of Chessboxing

After being eliminated in the 2019 World Championship in Antalya, Turkey, Iepe Rubingh asked Matt to co-commentate the rest of the tournament, then named him the "Voice of Chessboxing," charging him with the tasks of growing the sport in the Western Hemisphere and becoming the "Joe Rogan of Chessboxing."

Joining WCBO Executive Board

Since Iepe's passing, Matt has taken this charge seriously, joining the WCBO Executive Board, partnering with the IFC, cohosting Mogul Chessboxing Championship, and commentating the sport's exhibition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Seth Dousman

Seth Dousman is the founder of the Atlanta Checkmate Club, Atlanta’s largest and fastest-growing chess community. He also serves as United Chessboxing's Board Secretary and the Team Manager for Team USA Chessboxing. Chess has transformed his life, fueling his passion for mental health, discipline, and strategic growth. Today, he’s dedicated to building a welcoming community where people of all backgrounds can connect through the game.

Bryson Rhodes

Bryson Rhodes is an amateur boxer, avid chess student, and neuroscientist with over a decade of clinical experience. With an advanced degree in neuroplasticity, his domain expertise spans cognitive-motor research, molecular diagnostics, and EEG AI algorithms. He plans to fuse his passions for chess and boxing with his experience in neuroscience to conduct experiments, present research findings, and give Team USA Chessboxing an edge as mental athletes.

Kyle Grasser

Kyle Grasser is a New York state board certified attorney, United Chessboxing Board Treasurer, and member of the 2025 Team USA Chessboxing, earning a bronze medal in the heavyweight division. As one of the first Americans to chessbox on US soil alongside Jarett Gaymon, Kyle brings a connection to the early days of our sport. Kyle also serves as head of the Legal / Ethics Committee for the WCBO and co-directs New York Chessboxing.

Alexander Velikanov

Alexander Velikanov is the head chess coach for the Team USA Chessboxing with an ELO over 2300. As an International Master, Alex brings over two decades of tournament experience, including accolades such as representing USA in international events, multiple National Championships, the North American u-16 champion, and the Denker Tournament of High School Champions winner. As Team USA’s Chess Coach, Alex uses his expertise to prepare his fellow teammates for their battles on the chessboard.

Jermaine Howlett

Jermaine Howlett is Team USA Chessboxing's head boxing coach and 2025 team captain. As a 7-0 pro boxer with 6 KOs, and a USA Boxing sanctioned coach, he has competed in national tournaments since a young age, cornered world champions, and won Chicago Golden Gloves. Jermaine brings his passion for strategy, discipline, and personal growth to the gym, corner, and to every chessboxer he supports.

Heather Brown

Heather Brown is the Head of Marketing and Communications for United Chessboxing and Team USA, bringing over a decade of expertise in digital strategy, brand development, and community engagement from her 10-year tenure at Google in Global Business Operations. Outside of tech, Heather has curated and produced dynamic local events and communities—most notably North Brooklyn Chess Club, a premier hub for chess in New York City. She’s passionate about growing chessboxing’s presence and bringing fans together from all over the world. Outside of her involvement with the team, you can find her streaming a chess game on Twitch and connecting with her audience through @HotGirl.Chess, a tongue-in-cheek nomenclature chosen to confront stereotypes and biases of women in chess.

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Shaping the Future of Chessboxing

We bring together fighters, thinkers, and fans to grow the world’s most unique sport.

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