Online Museum of Checkers History

This particular website focuses on the American version of the game known as "Checkers." Within the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe the game is known as "Draughts," however, it is the same thing.

Why Create This Website?

Preservation

Meaning of the game's past, including the characters, settings, and objects, without relying on "tutorial"-style instruction.

Treasures

All checkers players worldwide can view a few of the exciting treasures currently kept secret away in private collections.

Care

Anyone that cares about checkers can add their private collection to the website by contacting the webmaster.

History of Checkers

Origin

Prior to the development of checkers, there are two games that resemble that of checkers. The first is Seega that has history in Egypt and "Latrunculi" that traces it's history back to ancient Rome. According to scholars, checkers was first played approximately on 3,000 B.C.E. This is evident duee to archaeologists discovering its existence in Iraq's ancient city of Ur.

The Best Checker Player

Marion Franklin Tinsley lived to be 68 years old and is considered the most skilled player. He is a nine time world champion. It was once claimed by Tinsley that he spent more than 10,000 hours practicing checkers while in graduate school.

Famous Tournament

In 1990 there was the Man vs Machine World Champion where Tinsley went against the checkers computer program called Chinook. Tinsly won the title with his four wins and Chinook's two wins. Together they had thirty three draws. Chinook's program was manually programed by its developers rather than programed with the assitance of artificial intelligence.

Pivotal Moment in Checkers History

In 2008, Alex Moiseyev won the gold metal at the first World Mind Games. The event was held in Beijing, China and sponsored by the International Mind Sports Association. The five mind sports available for the event was Bridge, Chess, Checkers, Go, and Chinesse Chess.

Timeline of Checkers

2000 - 2019

2000

RON KING, BARBADOS, VS ALEX MOISEYEV, USA, 3-3-18 DRAWS.
KING RETAINS TITLE

2001

13th IRISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP at CARLOW.
RON KING WINS TOURNEY

2002

RICHARD PASK VS. DAVE HARWOOD 9-0-7 at BRISTOL.
PASK RETAINS TITLE

2003

WORLD LADIES MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
PATRICIA BREEN RETAINS TITLE

2004

16th IRISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP at COOKSTOWN
RON KING WINS TOURNEY

2005

LADIES WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
PATRICIA BREEN RETAINS TITLE

2006

45th US NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AT MEDINA, OH
RON KING WINS TOURNEY

2007

ENGLISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT MORECAMBE
JIM GRANT WINS TOURNEY

2008

HOME INTERNATIONALS AT KNIGHTON
IRELAND WINS

2009

3 MOVE CHAMPIONSHIP AT STONEHAVEN
WILLIAM DOCHERTY WINS TITLE

2010

3-MOVE OPEN TOURNAMENT AT LEBANON
ALEX MOISEYEV WINS TOURNEY

2011

HAWAII STATE TOURNAMENT AT MILILAN
ANTHONY BISHOP WINS TOURNEY

2012

ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT AT MARION
MICHAEL HOLMES WINS TOURNEY

2013

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 3-MOVE
BORGHETTI WINS TITLE

2014

LADIES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
NADIYA CHYZHEVSKA WINS

2015

ITALIAN CHECKERS CHAMPIONSHIP
SERGIO SCARPETTA WINS

2016

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AT ROME
MICHELE BORGHETTI WINS

2017

OLD ENGLAND CLUB
NADIYA CHYZHEVSKA WINS

2018

WELSH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
TONY BOYLE WINS

2019

BRITISH AND IRISH CHAMPIONSHIP
FRANK MORAN WINS

Special Thanks to the Supporters of Online Checkers Museum