Sneha Waykar clinches the title in Cultural Olympiad - IFC 6 Chessboxing fight

First female Chessboxing fighters - Sneha and Kenza

Sneha Waykar from India and Kenza Megzari from France were the first-ever female fighters fighting in the IFC 6(Intellectual Fight Club). Intellectual Fight Club (IFC) is a remarkable event in the world of chessboxing which is organized by Guillaume Salançon(President of Chessboxing France) who has been a true champion of this sport. IFC showcases high-caliber professional fights, attracting eager crowds and elevating the sport to new heights. This event has been instrumental in bringing chessboxing into the global spotlight.

The format alternates between a round of chess and a round of boxing. The match concludes immediately if one player achieves checkmate in the chess round. However, if both players survive the chess round, they proceed to the boxing round. This pattern continues until a checkmate, timeout, three illegal moves, or a boxing knockout occurs. If a player survives the initial three-minute chess round, they transition to the boxing round. If they also withstand the boxing round, the match resumes with the same chess game from the first round.

After a thrilling and intense 7 rounds, Sneha emerged victorious, making her the First Female Champion in such a prestigious event.

This historic win is sure to inspire many others, especially young girls and women, to pursue their dreams and break barriers in their journey.

What made this event extraordinary was the venue and the timing when it was hosted! Held as part of the Cultural Olympiad at the Paris Olympics, the match took place at the Cultural Olympic Centre, drawing a live audience of around 2,500-3,000 people. Additionally, the event attracted significant media attention, with over 200 international journalists in attendance.

Guillaume Salançon, President of Chessboxing France who was also the organizer of this event shared some insights on his experience-

The experience was great. The venue was amazing, we are lucky to work with this team. Also, the world of the sport was here: Paris 2024, the French government, and the IOC. What a beautiful night to show our sport! And also it was for free, and 2500 people were there. So what a good promotion for our sport!

He also added-

The crowd was amazing. Both fighters were supported by the crowd equally But when the crowd saw Kenza getting punched by Sneha, they really shouted out for her. But Sneha thanked the crowd at the end because even though they were French, they understood the work and the values of Sneha!

Kenza shared some insights on her experience:

I was very happy when Guillaume called me for this fight. I gave it my all and dedicated myself fully to the preparation. On the day of the fight, the pressure was immense - being in front of 2,500 people in such a legendary theater was both impressive and unsettling, which cost me the first round of chess. Despite the pressure and stress, I enjoyed the fight, and it’s always an honor to have Sneha as an opponent.

Their journey has surely inspired many, particularly encouraging more girls and women to pursue their dreams. When asked about their thoughts on being the first female fighters in the IFC, Sneha shared-

This particular IFC was especially meaningful to me because Kenza and I were the first female fighters to compete, and winning my fight made it even more memorable. It’s amazing to be a role model for girls who want to excel in chessboxing. Our president, Lara Armas, is doing an outstanding job and is the perfect leader for this sport.

She also added-

With Guillaume's vision, the IFC has become a fantastic platform. This IFC was particularly meaningful as it was part of the Cultural Olympiad at the Paris Olympics, marking a significant new beginning for our sport. I hope many more players join chessboxing and help us make it an Olympic sport in the future. I also want to thank each of the IFC team members for putting in so much hard work and dedication for making this event successful!

Kenza also shared about how she’s the only woman competing in France -

I’m very proud to be one of the first female fighters in IFC. Currently, I’m the only woman competing in France, which limits my preparation. I have to train with men who aren’t in my weight category, and I don’t have many opportunities to fight and gain experience (I’ve only had two chessboxing matches so far). So yes, I hope that our fight with Sneha has a positive impact on women and motivates them to join us, leading to more women participating in the competition.

There were 7 rounds in total, and it’s not an easy task to switch from the chess calculation to the intense physicality of boxing. Sneha was leading and secured victory by time default in the 3rd round of chess, while Kenza was counted twice during the boxing round. Despite these setbacks, Kenza remained resilient and gave her best effort throughout the match.

When asked about her experience, Kenza shared some insights:

The first chess round was incredibly challenging. The pressure overwhelmed me, leading to some crucial mistakes that could have cost me the match. I knew Sneha was stronger in boxing, so my focus was on survival, and giving up was simply not an option. As the rounds went on, I could feel the weight of the stress, but I was determined to push through. I reminded myself that this was what I had trained for. Despite the odds, I kept fighting, and making it to the end was a victory in itself. I’m truly proud of that accomplishment.

Sneha brings home the victory!

While both Sneha and Kenza gave their best, Sneha clinched the victory after 7 rounds of chess and boxing.

Sneha's victory in this historic event was nothing short of remarkable. Kenza fought back with determination - pushing the match to its limits. With this achievement, Sneha has truly made her mark and inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps and fulfill their dreams. Sneha on bringing home the victory shared some insights -:

This match was particularly special for me because it provided a unique platform to gain greater exposure for both the sport and myself. With around 3,000 people watching live at the Cultural Olympic Centre and over 200 international journalists in attendance, it was a monumental moment. It was an honor to represent both chess boxing and India on such a grand stage.

One of the highlights for me after watching the stream was the incredible welcome they received! The walk to the stage, with 2500+ live spectators cheering, is something every player dreams of and I am sure this experience left a lasting experience for them.

Guillaume highlighted how Sneha and Kenza are iconic models for the sport -

I hope that many girls will see this fight and will get more interested in our sport. Sneha and Kenza are iconic models for our sport, so we need more female chessboxers and more female fights. This sport fits with women, and we want to show that. And thank you so much Sneha and Kenza for that!

Many athletes, like Sneha and Kenza, train tirelessly. Sneha is also a coding instructor, she juggles between her responsibilities with immense dedication. Yet, the resources and support systems available to them are still limited. Bringing more attention to this dynamic sport could open up new opportunities for these athletes, fostering an environment where their talents and hard work are more widely recognized.

With continued efforts and awareness, there is hope that Chessboxing will soon receive the attention it deserves in India and worldwide. This victory of Sneha, especially organized as part of cultural Olympia, is a huge milestone and has set an example for many in the country! Some more photos of the event and the welcome they received -

There was another fight included as part of IFC #6 which was between Karl Strugnell (United Kingdom) and Valentin Marcel (France) who emerged as the winner.

The live stream was uploaded on the IFC YouTube channel a few days after the event. Watch the full stream here

With this, we extend our congratulations to Sneha on her victory and wish both players the best in their future endeavors!

Related news:

	Sneha Waykar - National and Asian ChessBoxing champion 2023 @ 14/08/2023 by Sneha Tiwari (en)
	Winning the ChessBoxing Asian Championships and World Cup - Nongsha Angom @ 15/07/2023 by Sneha Tiwari (en)