Ludwig’s ‘Mogul Chessboxing Championship’ hits LA on December 11

Across four tournaments, the PogChamps series has proven that creators love going head-to-head across a chessboard. Meanwhile, a wave of high-profile bouts has established influencer boxing as a fad that can’t be ignored.

An event on December 11 is designed to smash those trends together. Ludwig Ahgren will host the Mogul Chessboxing Championship, a test of brains and brawn that will feature streamers like Disguised Toast 

The man known mononymous as Ludwig officially announced the chessboxing tournament on September 23, dubbing it “the biggest event of my career.” The YouTube star has spent most of 2022 putting on live events and launching ventures that will help other creators put on live events. After hosting a live finale for his game show Mogul Moves over the summer, Ludwig announced Offbrand in September. The creative studio will work with streamers who are trying to “make cool stuff.”

This live show will deliver an influencer-led take on an existing sport. Chessboxing presents a unique challenge for athletes by asking them to focus on a complex chess match after enduring repeated blows in the ring. The main card of Ludwig’s event will feature two chessmasters, Aman Hambleton and Lawrence Trent. Five pairs of influencers will create a compelling undercard, and additional warm-up fights will feature a twist: Two pairs of creators will combine boxing with Super Smash Bros, not chess.

The Mogul Chessboxing Championship will take place at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California. Tickets are available through Ludwig’s website and start at $30, but the event will also be streamed for free on Ludwig’s YouTube channel. The fun is scheduled to start at 7 PM ET on the 11th.

As recent tilts like the Creator Clash have shown us, participants in influencer boxing matches take their training seriously. Even though the Mogul Chessboxing Championship has an added mental component, the featured creators aren’t slacking on their physical preparation. Disguised Toast joked that he will become “the second best boxer in OfflineTV” ahead of his showdown with Pointcrow.