Brains x Brawn x Unbreakable Resolve
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Hi, I’m William Graif – FIDE Master, current New York State Chess Champion, The Gambit Man on YouTube, and newly minted chessboxer. This September, I will have the honor of representing the United States at the World Chessboxing Championships in Serbia.
As someone who began this journey with no formal boxing experience, my goal to become World Champion was certainly ambitious. Yet it was one that I worked as hard as possible to achieve, boxing and exercising fully seven days a week. My hard work paid off in April, when I emerged victorious at a sold-out chessboxing event at Gleason’s Gym against the current Georgia state chess champion and experienced martial artist. Winning in front of a hometown New York crowd was very special.
Why I'm Reaching Out
But just as things were going great, I shattered my ankle in two places in June (it wasn’t even boxing!). Surgery fixed the bone, and has not dented the dream. Each day I rehab as aggressively as possible, but with the clock ticking: I have only three months to turn crutches back into championship footwork.
Why It Matters
Chessboxing is a celebration of versatility and grit. By backing this campaign, you will:
- Support Team USA as we take on the Europeans who have wholly dominated this sport, until now! (Rocky IV, anyone?)
- Help prove that any setback can be turned into a comeback through determination
- Show that a nerd can be the World Chessboxing Champion!
All donations are via Brawl for a Cause, a 501c(3) and thus are fully tax-deductible. Your support goes to physical therapy, training, and travel to Serbia for the actual event.
I will be documenting my entire journey (check me out www.linktr.ee/wgraif ) – rehab, sparring, chess, and more, so that you can see exactly how your support turns into results on fight night. Win, lose, or draw, I’ll leave it all out on the ring and at the board.
Thank you for believing that the impossible is only a few moves away.
“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” — Rocky Balboa
