As the bell rings, the first fight of the evening begins slowly.
Both boxers gauge each other slowly and stay strong in defense to ensure no fatal mistakes are made early on.
The whole audience watches the ring and a screen placed above the stage towards the back of the Cabaret Sauvage, in Paris.
This is because footwork and other uppercuts are left out for now.
The fight does not take place with gloves, but on the checkerboard floor of a chessboard.
Kévin Guedj (left) and Paul Ducher © Gabrielle Cézard / Le Figaro
The main screen shows live the location of each piece on the chessboard.
As soon as a pawn moves forward one space, the public reacts at the same time as the commentators indicating the strategies of each one.
Meanwhile, Kevin Guedj places his queen and bishop on the side of his opponent's king, looking to lay the groundwork for a future attack.
Kevin takes on Paul Ducher, both new to the competition.
This lack of experience shows in the slowness of the strokes and the caution before the second ringing of the bell ends the round.
© Gabrielle Cezard / Le Figaro
Six rounds of chess and five rounds of boxing
The headphones, worn for soundproofing during chess games, are taken off and suddenly another fight takes place in the ring.
The chairs and table are gone, and now Kevin and Paul are back with gloves and mouth guards.
The bell announces the second round, and blows on the chessboard are replaced by blows to the chin, chess by boxing.
Paul will emerge victorious by technical knockout.
Chessboxing Fights 1 - Paris https://t.co/jCoRPRVDrd
— CHESSBOXING (@ChessBoxing) November 9, 2019
A typical fight consists of six rounds of chess and five rounds of boxing.
A victory is secured by checkmate, knockout, or points based on chess performance, or if a player runs out of time to make a move in the game of chess.
On many occasions, the sound of the punches received are drowned out by “failure, failure, failure” chanted by the crowd.
Signs are also held by spectators.
Chess in this environment is as much a spectacle as boxing in the eyes of the crowd.
© Gabrielle Cezard / Le Figaro
"It's a sport that is sometimes not taken seriously"
A "thank you Enki" written in marker is brandished in the crowd.
A reference to Enki Bilal, inventor of chessboxing in 1992 in “Froid Equateur”, a comic strip famous for its futuristic vision.
The author was present for this great meeting as was the president of the French chessboxing federation, Guillaume Salançon.
“It's a sport that sometimes isn't taken seriously, yet there is real commitment and an incredible atmosphere.
People laugh less now when they see what we're doing, he says.
Tonight is the first step.
The world championships are in our sights.
We will see what level we have against the best in the world like the Russians or the Finns.
We will be able to gauge ourselves.”
Enki Bilal (2nd from the left) © Gabrielle Cézard / Le Figaro
With 11 federations and 3,500 licensees today in the world, the stated objective of the organizers is to democratize the practice of chessboxing in order to apply for the Olympic Games in the coming years.