European Chessminton Championships Wrap: Abergel and Bauer Take Top Honors in Germany
Chessminton’s First Euro Champs: Abergel and Bauer Reign Supreme
In an unprecedented event, the first European Chessminton championships took place in Waghäusel, Germany, over the weekend of July 26 and 27. The unique hybrid sport, which combines elements of chess and badminton, drew 41 participants eager to test their skills in this innovative competition.
What is Chessminton?
Chessminton, created in 2016 by German entrepreneur Sasha Zhu, is played in four stages: two blitz chess rounds, a badminton doubles match, and a final blitz chess round. The scores are aggregated, with a win in a blitz chess round worth 11 points, and a loss worth the time advantage gained by the winner. The badminton match is a regular set played to 11 points.
For more details, see the official Chessminton regulations.
“It’s like a game of cat and mouse,” said Christian Bauer, one half of the victorious duo, Thal Abergel and Bauer. “You have to be sharp in chess and agile on the court. It’s a real test of versatility.”
Thal Abergel’s Dominance
Thal Abergel proved his versatility by winning both the singles and mixed events, as well as teaming up with Bauer to secure the double man title. “Chessminton seems to have been made for him,” Bauer noted. “He’s an exceptional player, and his strength in both sports was clear to see.”
A Fair and Enjoyable Atmosphere
Despite being the first European Chessminton championships, the event was a resounding success. Participants, who also entered other tournaments such as single, double, mixed, and team events, enjoyed the friendly, fair-play atmosphere.
“The level of competition was high, but the spirit was even higher,” said Zhu, the event’s organizer. “It’s exactly the spirit we want to foster in Chessminton.”
Bauer Reflects on the Victory
Reflecting on their victory, Bauer said, “We went into the double man event thinking we had a strong chance, even though we’d never played officially together before. Our goal was to avoid a ‘big spanking’ at badminton, and we managed that despite facing some incredibly talented opponents.”
Read Christian Bauer’s full communiqué on the event here.
Looking Ahead
With the success of the first European Chessminton championships, eyes are already turning to the next edition. “We’re already planning next year’s event,” Zhu teased. “And we hope to see even more countries represented.”
Did you know?
Chessminton was invented in 2016, but it didn’t take long for it to gain traction. In 2017, the first world championships were held, with Germany emerging as the inaugural winner.
Pro Tip
If you’re interested in trying Chessminton, start by improving your skills in both chess and badminton separately. Once you’re comfortable, gradually combine the two to build your strategy and technique.
FAQs
- What is the format of a Chessminton match?
- A blitz chess round (5 minutes, winner scores 11-0 or opponent scores 1 point for each 30-second edge),
- Badminton doubles set (to 11 points),
- Another blitz chess round (scored the same as the first),
- And a final blitz chess round (scored as the first).
- What happens in case of a tie?
- The player leading after the final blitz chess round wins.
Stay tuned for more updates on Chessminton and other unique sports on 247sports.news!