Formula One driver Charles Leclerc will take on chess grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in a bespoke chess-inspired challenge next month as part of his partnership with Chivas Regal.
The head-to-head, taking place on 1 September at the Chivas Regal Arena of Mastery, will see Leclerc and Nakamura play SE!ZE, a strategy game created by Leclerc.
The event supports the launch of Chivas Regal 16, a whisky co-created by Leclerc and Chivas Regal Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. The blend brings together 16 whiskies, each aged for at least 16 years, and is anchored by sherry-cask-matured Longmorn single malt.
Chivas Regal said the collaboration reflects the shared focus on precision, skill and mastery between Leclerc and Hyslop. Hyslop brings four decades of blending experience to the release, while Leclerc’s involvement has helped shape a whisky intended to offer a new expression for the brand.
The number 16 is central to the campaign: it references Leclerc’s Formula One race number, the whisky’s age statement and the strategic format of SE!ZE. The game’s title also plays on the word “seize”, reflecting the campaign’s forward-looking and ambitious theme.
Leclerc’s challenge against Nakamura will explore strategy and decision-making in an arena outside motorsport, with Chivas Regal positioning the match as a reflection of the detailed craft behind the blend.
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The event will be livestreamed on Chivas Regal’s YouTube channel from 4.50pm BST on 1 September. Viewers will also have the opportunity to submit questions for Leclerc and Nakamura following the challenge.
