Boxing legend Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao has revealed his next big fight is on a board against a 10-year-old app version of chess king Magnus Carlsen.
The 12-time world champ boxer-turned politician will make a rare appearance to compete in the Magnus Carlsen Celebrity Charity Challenge.
Pacquiao is the latest and greatest in a line of big names to take on the World Chess Champion’s younger self at his own game and the unique spectacle will be broadcast during the Finals event of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour.
Pacquiao, a huge chess fan and a Senator in his homeland of the Philippines, will no doubt be hoping he can box clever and land a knockout blow.
But so far, no celebrity taking the challenge has beaten Carlsen on his Play Magnus app. The longest anyone has survived is 49 moves.
The stakes are high.
Pacquiao, who is hoping to raise awareness for the “Stop Asian America Pacific Islander Hate” (stopaapihate.org) campaign, will get $5,000 to donate to his chosen charity just for taking part. If he wins the challenge by lasting the longest, he will secure an extra $50,000.
Carlsen said: “I can’t wait to see how the legendary Manny Pacquiao does against a 10-year-old me on the Play Magnus app. I wasn’t a World Champion back then, but I was already playing decently so it’s going to be hard!”
Pacquiao added: “I am very much excited to play Magnus Carlsen, the world chess champion. This is something that doesn’t happen every day and I will be placed in a different arena this time around.”
Pacquiao will be raising funds for the Manny Pacquiao Foundation, the charity built on the Senator’s commitment to giving back and fighting for those less fortunate.
Watch the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour broadcast on October 1 to find out what happens when the 12-time world boxing champ takes on the four-time World Chess Champion.
Twitter: Tag the account @ChampChessTour, include hashtag #ChessChamps
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Facebook: Tag the account @championschesstour, include hashtag #ChessChamps
