Filmed in London on June 3, 2025 and aired on ESPN, this special introduces one of the wildest competitions you’ve never seen: Diving Chess. Players must hold their breath underwater while calculating their moves, surfacing only when it’s their opponent’s turn.
The episode follows a dramatic best-of-three match between world-class competitor Michał Mazurkiewicz and underdog Alex Friedland, combining deep strategy, physical endurance, and underwater tension. Who will rise to the surface victorious?
Discover more at DivingChess.com and MindSportsOlympiad.com
Written, directed, and narrated by Etan Ilfeld
Produced by Etan Ilfeld and Max Conran
Director of Photography: Max Conran
Edited by: Ellai Hamel
Camera Operators: Will Gething and Tom La Motte
Assistant Camera: Shee Won Park
Graphics Design: Alice Coleman
Diving Chess set: Sebastian Conran
Special thanks:
Oscar Bos (Groningen footage)
Dave Painter (London WC footage)
Chris Fung, Hassan Amini, Roy Zabludowicz
