THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 5 February 1944, Page 2

THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS

PLAYED IN MOST COUNTRIES The game of draughts is played in most countries, under varying conditions of the number of squares on the board, the rules of the game, and the name by which it is known— Chequers in America, Le Jeu Canadien in Canada, Shashki in Russia, and Darn Board in Scotland. The records of the game do not go back farther than the invention of the art of printing. All conjecture as to its origin is purely speculative, and its ancient history (if any) is lost. It is not doubted that board games were played in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, but there is no evidence that such games resembled draughts, even in rudimentary form. In Spain the records are the oldest, dating back to the 16th century. The Spanish game to-day is the same as the old records then described. They played the game generally styled as the English game, records of which begin with William Payne about 1756, but a more modern version was introduced by Andrew ''Anderson who played five challenge matches against the Herd Laddy (James Wyllie), winning four of them, but Wyllie eventually won the title of world’s champion. Anderson was always recognised as a player of merit, and calling one day on a Scotch friend, proposed a game of draughts. His host was busy, and informed him that his Herd Laddy would give him a game, and on that occasion Anderson was defeated, hence the challenge above-mention-ed. Interest in the game of draughts in Nelson will be revived by the holding of the New Zealand championships here at Easter. A meeting of all interested is called for this evening.