Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt is making moves to reclaim his impressive chess ranking after a recent decline in his online rating.
Hunt, who has previously ranked in the top 1% of chess players worldwide, saw his rating drop from 2136 to 2019 following recent matches. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on December 6, Hunt declared, “Getting my chess ♟️ ranking back up need to get to 3k 🤪.”
The New Zealand-born athlete has already begun his journey back to the top, participating in 18 chess games on December 8 alone, demonstrating his renewed commitment to the strategic board game.
Hunt’s connection to chess began as a cost-effective form of entertainment. “I actually was just trying to find ways to entertain myself. Just, playing chess was a board game and it was cheap, so I taught myself how to play,” he revealed during an interview with The Crowd Goes Wild.
The 50-year-old’s dedication to chess parallels his competitive nature in combat sports. Beyond his achievements in the UFC and kickboxing, Hunt has also proven himself to be an accomplished ping pong player, showcasing his versatility across different competitive domains.
Currently, Hunt is focused on a legal battle with the UFC regarding Brock Lesnar’s participation in their UFC 200 bout, where he represents himself in court. The case centers around testing protocols and organizational responsibilities in professional sports.
As Hunt works to elevate his chess ranking back to his previous heights, his story continues to challenge stereotypes about athletes and their intellectual pursuits, proving that excellence in physical competition can coexist with mastery of one of the world’s most demanding strategic games.
