Last time politicians and businesses managed to sink the ordinary person’s life into a pit of despair was in the late ’80s. The theory is that out of those difficult times – when people had little hope and no money – came great cultural change: the invention of acid house and rave culture. OK so the first wave may have only lasted until the CJB became the CJA in 1993 – and the drugs got crap and the Hacienda was closed down. But at that time, in those early years, house music and free parties gave the working classes who couldn’t get a job and were being told they would have to work until they were 80, some sense of enjoyment. So here we are, during a similarly galling and unpredictable recession, just waiting to pounce on some nascent underground social trend as the next saviour of escapism.

Well, we’re still waiting, because its doubful that Chessboxing will ever be a huge crossover movement. What it is, is an unusual and quirky new sport that is emblematic of the kind of surreal thrills that London is becoming more and more renowned for.

Thanks to Heydon Prowse – whose more famous for ambushing his MP these days – for the tip off. The next chessboxing takes place at the Boston Arms in Tufnell Park this coming Friday.

How does it work? Competitors (dressed in boxing trunks) battle each other across alternate rounds of chess (they get to take their gloves off) and boxing. Wins are determined by knockouts, checkmates or points. What’s the point? I have no idea, apart from to promote two great sports that remain – sadly – at the fringes of our society (unsurprising given ITV’s appalling big fight live coverage these days). It should certainly lay to rest the erroneous brains and brawn dichotomy to boot.

Anyhows, it may not change popular culture as we know it, but it certainly sounds like something different to punctuate the normal Friday night inebriation session – theres also a dj until midnight. Tickets range from £15 – 35.

http://www.londonchessboxing.com

Tickets: http://www.londonchessboxing.com/PAGES/Events-%20Tickets.html