About Iepe Rubingh
Lived 1974 – 2020 (aged 45). Iepe Rubingh was a Dutch artist, chess player, boxer, performance artist and chess boxer.
Iepe B. T. Rubingh (; 17 August 1974 – 8 May 2020) was a Dutch performance artist, athlete and the founder of chess boxing and World Chess Boxing Organisation (WCBO, with central Berlin, Germany in 2003).
Biography
Works as an artist As a performance artist, Rubingh blocked off intersections in Berlin and Tokyo (Shibuya Crossing) to create major traffic congestion. He was jailed for 10 days for the Tokyo action.
In 2010 (Sunday April), 500 litres of waterbased environmentally-friendly paint on asphalt spread by 2000 cars on Rosenthaler Platz Berlin. By IEPE & the anonymous crew. Directed by AKIZ.
Chess boxing Rubingh founded chess boxing in 2003, drawing inspiration from Enki Bilal's comic book Froid Équateur. He was the President of the World Chess Boxing Organisation (WCBO ) for many years and CEO of Chess Boxing Global, the marketing company for professional chessboxing.
Rubingh is recorded in the Guinness World Records as the First Chess Boxing World Champion.
The Queen's Gambit The popular Netflix miniseries "The Queen's Gambit" is dedicated to Rubingh. He is credited as an "On-Set Chess Consultant" for the series.
Death Rubingh died in his sleep on 8 May 2020. The cause of death was not determined, although COVID-19 was excluded.
Record
Titles 1st World Chess Boxing Organization World Middleweight champion (2003 – Current) 1st Chess Boxing Club Berlins International German middleweight champion
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Important facts
People in Iepe Rubingh's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Iepe Rubingh's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Iepe Rubingh?
Dutch chess boxer (1974-2020)
When was Iepe Rubingh born?
Iepe Rubingh was born on 17 August 1974 in Rotterdam.
When did Iepe Rubingh die?
Iepe Rubingh died on 8 May 2020 in Berlin.
What was Iepe Rubingh's occupation?
Iepe Rubingh was an artist, chess player, boxer, performance artist and chess boxer.
What nationality was Iepe Rubingh?
Iepe Rubingh was Dutch.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Iepe Rubingh. https://biography.guide/iepe-rubingh/
MLA: "Iepe Rubingh." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/iepe-rubingh/.
Chicago: "Iepe Rubingh." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/iepe-rubingh/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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