Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc took on chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in a head-to-head contest staged by Chivas Regal ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The first-of-its-kind matchup took place before a live crowd at the Chivas Regal Arena of Mastery on September 2.
The showdown linked two products created by Leclerc: Chivas Regal 16 Year Old, his debut co-created whisky, and SE!ZE, a bespoke chess-inspired game. Both were designed around the principle that “every move matters.”
Chivas Regal 16 Year Old draws on 16 whiskies, each aged for at least 16 years. Leclerc selected Longmorn Single Malt, matured in sherry casks, as the whisky’s signature component.
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READ THE STORYThe whisky was co-created by Leclerc and master blender Sandy Hyslop around the number 16, which has defined the driver’s career.
Fans packed the arena to watch the two competitors challenge each other across a single board. The event was livestreamed via Chivas Regal’s YouTube channel.
“I’ve faced plenty of challenges in my career, but stepping into the Chivas Regal Arena of Mastery was something entirely different,” said Charles Leclerc, global brand ambassador for Chivas Regal. “The crowd, the arena, facing Hikaru, the energy was electric. SE!ZE and Chivas Regal 16 are built on the same idea: that every choice matters and nothing happens by accident.”
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Leclerc added: “Facing one of the greatest strategic minds in the world at my own game brought that to life in a way I hadn’t anticipated. That’s what Chivas Regal and I are always pushing towards: moments that test you in ways you don’t expect.”
Nakamura also reflected on the contest.
“I’ve competed in front of big crowds before, but nothing quite like that,” said the chess grandmaster. “Charles and Chivas Regal built a game that keeps you on edge from the first move: fast, precise, with no margin for error and where every decision matters.” He continued: “True mastery isn’t just about knowing the game, it’s about how you handle the pressure when it counts.”
Chivas Regal is owned by Pernod Ricard, the world’s second-largest spirits group.
Chivas Regal 16 Year Old is available on Amazon with an RRP of £64.00. SE!ZE will be available to play digitally later this year.
