Each player has 12 minutes for all moves. There is a maximum of 11 chessboxing rounds: six four-minute chess rounds alternating with five three-minute boxing rounds.
1.d4
Nf6
2.Nf3
d6
3.Nbd2
Nbd7
4.e4
e5
5.dxe5
dxe5
6.Bd3
True to his nickname, Costello plays a rock-solid opening.
6...Bc5
7.0-0
0-0
8.Nb3
[Most precise is to pressurise the e5 pawn with 8.Nc4!
Qe7
9.Qe2
,followed by putting the Bc1 on b2 or c3.]
8...Bb6
9.Bg5
h6
10.Bh4
Qe8!?
11.Re1
Nh5
12.Bg3
g5!?
At the end of round 1, the Italian signals his attacking intentions by thrusting his pawn forward. Round 2 saw the fighters get into their stride and size each other up in the ring. Costello went flat out. Leveque generally defended well but was caught out by a hook and had an 8-count at the bell.
13.Bxe5!
A fantastic combination exclaimed commentator Malcolm Pein! Costello notices the Nh5 is hanging, although it turns out that Black gets some compensation for the pawn. Post-game analysis demonstrates that there were 2 good alternatives based on the same motif. [13.Nxg5!!
was the best from the viewpoint of a chessboxing bout. It leads to a draw by perpetual check, which would be in Costello's favour as the weaker chessplayer. As the stronger boxer, he would then be the favourite to get the points decision. 13...Nxg3
14.Qg4!
(14.Nh3
Nxe4
15.Qg4++/=
) 14...hxg5
15.Qxg5+
Kh7
16.Qh4+
Kg7
17.Qxg3+
Kf6
18.Qh4+
Kg6
19.Qg4+=
; 13.Nxe5!
Nxg3
14.Nc4
and Black can't extricate his knight on the next move. After 14...Nxe4
15.Bxe4
Qd8+/-
Black's kingside is weak.]
13...Nxe5
14.Nxe5
Nf4!
15.Nf3
Costello keeps his knight near to his king, but this apparently solid move is a cause of later difficulties. [15.Nc4!
eliminates Black's Bb6 from the attack.]
15...Bg4!
If YOU PIN, THEN YOU WIN! Black has compensation for the pawn, in view of his aggressively placed minor pieces.
16.h3?!
White unnecessarily weakens his kingside. [Stiff defence with 16.Nbd2!=
and ideas of e5 or Nc4 would have kept the balance.]
16...Bh5
[16...Qc8!?
is a cute computer suggestion.]
17.Qd2
Rd8!
Leveque piles on the pressure by pinning the Bd3 against Costello's queen. Will Costello crack and allow checkmate? [17...Bxf3
18.gxf3
Qe6
19.Bf1
Nxh3+
20.Bxh3
Qxh3
is strong and might be played in a normal chess game, but there is no chance of a quick checkmate.]
18.Qd1?
A confused Costello planlessly shuffles his queen from whence it came, effectively encouraging Leveque to strengthen his attack with 2 'free moves'. At the end of round 3, White had 6.30 left on his clock compared to Black's 9:30. Leveque followed up with a confident boxing round where Costello didn't look close to flooring him. [18.Nh2!
Qe5
19.Nf1
Qxb2-/+
; 18.Re3!?-/+
]
18...Qe6!!
A beautiful and strong queen manoeuvre that points towards White's weakened kingside. Costello fans were fearing he could soon face checkmate.
19.Kh2
c6
[19...g4!
20.hxg4
Qxg4
21.Rg1
Bxf2
]
20.e5!
A great idea to stop tricks along the b8-h2 diagonal.
20...Bxf2
21.Rf1
Bb6
At the end of round 5, Costello was clearly worse, but was delighted to successfully defend against checkmate. Costello had 3:35 time left compared to Leveque's 8:25. Boxing round 6 saw the Englishman completely dominate, displaying his legendary fitness whilst the Italian was flagging.
22.Nbd4?!
Bxd4
Leveque needed to move super-quickly to win the chess in round 7, so that Costello would run out of time or be mated. Leveque is a chess master and has the ability to react instantly but used up too much of his time. Possibly the previous tough boxing round had affected his speed of thought.
23.Nxd4
Rxd4?
[23...Qxe5!
could have polished off the game in this round, as Black would win a piece by discovered check.]
24.Bh7+!
Kxh7
25.Qxd4
Bg6
26.c3
Re8
27.Rad1
Qf5
28.g4
Qxe5
29.Qxe5
Rxe5
Queens are exchanged and Black has little hope of checkmate before the bell.
30.Rde1
Rd5
31.Rd1
Re5
32.Rde1
Ra5
33.a3
Rb5
34.b4
Rd5
35.Rd1
Re5
36.Rde1
End of round 7. Costello had just 40 seconds remaining for all his moves, compared to Leveque's 7' 20". Leveque therefore had the chess wrapped up, but he needed to survive the next boxing round 8. Costello, sensing blood, went for one last push against the drained Italian. The Englishman hurtled himself towards Leveque with his trademark 'arms-a-swinging' attack. Leveque fell to the ground for an 8-count. He got up, and held on for dear life before being floored again. With 50 seconds remaining, referee Dominguez stopped the contest. Leveque protested that the knock-down was not legitimate, and he (rather bravely) pleaded that he should be allowed to continue. Dominguez disagreed. Boxer spectators were heard to say that he was not incorrect to stop the fight, certainly for safety reasons. The doctor's opinion was that Leveque looked utterly exhausted, and if the referee didn't stop the fight, then the she was poised to jump into the ring to stop it herself. Victory to Costello by TKO in round 8! 1-0