The post-graduate research of Dr. Bill Goldman (doctoral work supervised by the late Dr. Simon Morgenstern) has uncovered ground-breaking evidence that confirms the antiquity and primacy of Stanley Random Chess, from which Simplified Stanley Random (Common) Chess later descended, although the latter has enjoyed greater popularity, and therefore earned the designation "Common" Chess. The name "Stanley" apparently originates from Sir Thomas Stanley (d. 1459), a descendant of William the Conqueror who excelled in Stanley Random (SR) Chess from an early age, and was also the name of the pet monkey that accompanied William during his Norman Conquest.
The name Stanley was first bestowed on the family by King William as an honorary title in memory of his beloved pet. The first mention of the game is found in historical accounts of the Ferrers family in 1137. The Stanley family apparently learned the game when they assumed the Earl of Derby title from the Ferrers in 1485. From this time, they actively promoted SR Chess, hosting annual tournaments for the Stanley Cup. In 1892, the Stanley Cup was sadly donated by the rebel Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, from which time it was used as a trophy for amateur hockey in Canada. Frederick T. Stanley, who in 1843 founded The Stanley Works, at that time a bolt and door hardware manufacturing company located in New Britain, was responsible for popularizing SR Chess in America. Directors of his company (now renowned for making fine hand and industrial tools) are still known to play SR Chess in board meetings today. It is entirely coincidental that Stanley is also the first name of one of the actors that made up the legendary Laurel and Hardy, although it is conceiveable that his parents named him in honour of SR Chess.
Originally posted by BowmannAs in Higham Ferrers, in Northamptonshire?
The name Stanley was first bestowed on the family by King William as an honorary title in memory of his beloved pet. The first mention of the game is found in historical accounts of the Ferrers family in 1137. The Stanley family apparently learned the game when they assumed the Earl of Derby title from the Ferrers in 1485.
Originally posted by irishhebrew82I once played Chuck Norris at chess: at one point I was sure I'd trapped his Queen, but then suddenly there was this deadly ginger-bearded shortarse blur of motion and when I looked up the very next half-move all of my pieces were reduced to a fine white ash, apart from my King, which tottered briefly and then exploded, sending plastic shrapnel in all directions (I'm still blind as I write this). There's a lesson there for all of us, I feel: next time, I'm voting Republican.
I can tell you who invented chess......Chuck Norris invented chess. The original rules were when you captured a piece from your opponent you would deliver a roundhouse kick to your opponents face. The problem was when someone would capture one of Chuck Norris's pieces (which never happened, but for the sake of the story we will pretend it did), they as people argued over who actually invented chess because Chuck Norris is just that awesome.
Originally posted by BonfaThe commonly accepted theory is that chess originated in India. However, Sam Sloan seem to think differently.
Just out of curiosity.
I've searched and searched and i can't find anything.
"[...] there seems to be no other choice but to conclude that chess originated in China. From this starting point, we can work out how chess must have developed and spread over the centuries."
http://www.ishipress.com/origin.htm
[Edit: As to the actual inventor, there is of course no way to tell, any more than we can tell who invented the wheel.]
