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- The Philippine senator lasted 41 moves against an app programmed to simulate a 10-year-old version of Norwegian world chess champion Magnus Carlsen.
- The charity match was broadcast on Friday during the Finals of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour.
- In a video of the match, Pacquiao can be seen actively engaging the Play Magnus app before suffering a checkmate.
- The boxing legend received $5,000 for participating. This will go to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation, which was “built from Manny’s commitment to giving back and fighting for those less fortunate.”
- Pacquiao, an avid chess fan, sponsored the 2013 and 2018 Asian Continental Chess Championships in the Philippines.
- Prior to the match, the real-life Carlsen expressed his excitement: “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!”
- Against the chess bot, actor Rain Wilson lasted 30 moves, while television presenter Liv Boeree managed 19 moves. Khan Academy founder Sal Khan completed with 13.
- Actors Cuba Gooding Jr. and Joe Mantegna lasted 16 and 13 moves, respectively, while Formula E racing driver Maximilian Gunther ended his match with 14.
- Pacquiao comes second to Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, who lasted 49 moves against the chess bot.
- Carlsen, the current world chess champion, had an Elo rating of 1645 at the age of 10, according to Norwegian records. He became a FIDE Master at the age of 11 with an Elo rating of 2127. His peak classical rating of 2882 is the highest in history.