Students Math Major Wins Silver in an Unlikely Sport: Chessboxing Stories You May Like This Alum’s Business Is About Overcoming Obstacles—Literally At Paris Olympics, Figure Skater Karen Chen ’23 Gets Her Gold Meet the Undergrad Who’s a 2023 World Wrestling Champ Will MacLeod ’26 medaled for Team USA at the 2025 world championships—a test of physical prowess and mental acumen By Melissa Newcomb It may be hard to fathom, but “chessboxing” is exactly what it sounds like: a competition that combines the sport of boxing with the game of chess. Participants alternate between the two dramatically different activities in three-minute rounds, with a minute of rest in between. And in September 2025—after just three months of training—Arts & Sciences student Will MacLeod ’26 earned silver for Team USA at the World Chessboxing Championships in Serbia. Playing chess at the world championships, and being declared a match winner. “One moment you’re playing chess, which has a very analytical mental process—and the next minute you’re getting punched in the face in this reactive, physical game,” says MacLeod, a math major from Amherst, MA. “You have to master the transition, because with switching back and forth, you need to be able to calm down, focus, and think analytically again, very fast." The sport, which was featured on a November 2025 episode of “60 Minutes,” is played for a maximum of 11 rounds (six of chess, five of boxing); a victor is declared based on judges’ boxing scores—unless a competitor wins beforehand, either by checkmate or knockout. One moment you’re playing chess, which has a very analytical mental process—and the next minute you’re getting punched in the face in this reactive, physical game. “Chessboxing started as fiction in a French graphic novel, until in 2003 there was a real-life match fought in Berlin,” the CBS News show observed. “The sport’s popularity grew across Europe, especially in Russia. The odd competition even made it to the Paris Olympics as an exhibition match in summer 2024.” For MacLeod, the chess half of the sport came first: his dad taught him how to play as a child, and in high school he began studying the game and competing in tournaments. Sreang Hok / Cornell UniversityTraining at an Ithaca gym. His intro to boxing was more recent, when he took a PE class on the subject as a freshman and liked it so much that he joined the Cornell Boxing Club. For the next several years, MacLeod trained at a gym in downtown Ithaca, and in May 2025 he had his first amateur bout before heading to NYC for a finance internship. For MacLeod, the chess half of the sport came first: his dad taught him how to play as a child, and in high school he began studying the game and competing in tournaments. Stories You May Like This Alum’s Business Is About Overcoming Obstacles—Literally At Paris Olympics, Figure Skater Karen Chen ’23 Gets Her Gold “It was a transformative experience,” says MacLeod. “Combined with the semester ending, I was in a reflective mood and asking myself what was next for me; for some reason, chessboxing popped into my head.” He’d only seen a short video clip of the sport. But within a month of emailing the director of Team USA, MacLeod was sparring at a showcase in Atlanta—and was soon tapped to join the squad for the World Championships. MacLeod sports the American flag at the medal ceremony. MacLeod found a chessboxing club in the city to train with over the summer, but when he returned to the Hill he had to get creative. Sometimes, he’d bring his chessboard to the boxing gym; other times, he’d do a tough workout to raise his heart rate, then immediately play chess. Within a month of emailing the director of Team USA, MacLeod was sparring at a showcase in Atlanta—and was soon tapped to join the squad for the World Championships. In Serbia, MacLeod competed in the 61 kilogram weight class—facing rivals from Turkey, France, and Italy. In his first two matches, he checkmated his opponents early on. The final, against the reigning champion, went all the way to the last round before MacLeod was checkmated, earning him the second spot on the podium. Sreang Hok / Cornell UniversityWith no chessboxing club near campus, MacLeod has had to create his own regimen. “I wouldn’t be able to win a silver medal at a world championship in chess or boxing separately—but I could because of this unique combination,” he notes. “I have a lot of different interests, and I like achieving competence in a variety of things. I don’t like the idea of being one-dimensional.” Top: MacLeod in the ring during the 2025 World Chessboxing Championships. (All photos provided, unless otherwise indicated.) Published December 10, 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. 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