| |
|
Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent: chess king Magnus Carlsen
PhilBoxing.com Thu, 23 Sep 2021

Boxing megastar Manny “Pac-Man” 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 Hate” 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 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.
The uses the hashtags #pacquiaofoundation #pacquiao #jointhefight #bethechange and #teampacquiao on social media.
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.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Former WBC champ Bazooka Limón hospitalized in Mexico By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 11 Jan 2026Zuffa Boxing set to unveil its maiden card on January 23 in Las Vegas By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’ve got an army and army’s move in numbers’ Owen Corrigan returns for Light Heavyweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Sat, 10 Jan 2026Pasalamat Festival Chess Tour 2026 to Push Through By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 10 Jan 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS & TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO PRESENT CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - VERONA, NY , Sat, 10 Jan 2026ELIF TURHAN SIGNS NEW MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING – FIRST IBF WORLD TITLE DEFENCE DATE SET FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 , Sat, 10 Jan 2026Driving Philippine Tennis Forward: Jean Henri Lhuillier Champions the 2026 Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Tour By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 10 Jan 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced , Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’m ready to make some noise’ Billy Quinncroft returns for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Dableo and Laylo's Team to Compete in Bulacan By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9 , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation , Fri, 09 Jan 2026IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media , Fri, 09 Jan 2026SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026Undefeated Kansas Middleweight Prospect Marco “El Tiburon” Romero finished 2025 with 7th triumphs, all by knockout, & 11-0 record , Thu, 08 Jan 2026Kinetix Sports aims for bigger events in 2026 By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 20262026 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge on January 26 By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026World Ranked Heavyweight Dainier Pero Headlines on Saturday, January 17th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia , Wed, 07 Jan 2026Jahyae Brown to Battle Arnold Gonzalez in Exciting Co-Feature on Thursday, January 15th at The War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey , Wed, 07 Jan 2026Hendri Cedeno Seeks Monumental Victory Against Alfredo Santiago for NABO Title January 10 at Barclays Center , Tue, 06 Jan 2026Kingsley Ibeh learned from his Loss 5 years ago to Jared Anderson , Tue, 06 Jan 2026Unified World Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez returning to Corpus Christi…as a promoter! , Tue, 06 Jan 2026Ocum to fight Ballesteros on January 26 By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 05 Jan 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|