Manny Pacquiao to play world chess champion Magnus Carlsen

The newly-retired boxer’s next opponent will be a 10-year-old version of the world chess champion in a match for charity

Former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is set to take on Magnus Carlsen in a charity chess match.

Pacquiao, who announced his retirement from boxing this week after a legendary career, is an avid chess fan and will win up to $50,000 for his foundation if he lasts 50 moves against the world champion.

The ‘Pacman’ will face a 1645-rated version of Carlsen on the Play Magnus app - the rating the Norwegian had as a 10-year-old.

The two-minute timed match will take place on Friday 1 October and will be broadcast during the ongoing Champions Chess Tour Finals event.

“I am very much excited to play Magnus Carlsen, the world chess champion,” Pacquiao said. “This is something that doesn’t happen every day and I will be placed in a different arena this time around.”

Carlsen added: “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.”

The 42-year-old Pacquiao has turned his attention to running for president in his native Philippines in the May 2022 elections.