a traditional game in turmoil after suspicions of cheating

He had a steel chestnut in his pocket: an octogenarian, winner of the world conkers championship in England, is suspected of having cheated and the organizers of this traditional game are leading the investigation. The game, played by two people, consists of twirling a chestnut on the end of a string with the aim of smashing that of your opponent.

This year, David Jakins, an 82-year-old retired engineer, won the men’s title at the edition held on Sunday in the village of Southwick in eastern England. It was the 46th attempt for the veteran, who has been competing since 1977. But a metallic brown replica was found by organizers in his pocket after his victory. David Jakins denies using it in the competition.

The unsuccessful finalist, Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, is skeptical. “My chestnut disintegrated in one hit, which never happens. I suspect fraud and I expressed my surprise to the organizers”he told the newspaper The Daily Telegraph. The excitement is all the greater as David Jakins was responsible for drilling and inserting the strings into the participants’ chestnuts, as «King Conker».

St John Burkett, a member of the organizing committee, told AFP that an investigation was underway but that the first elements tended to exonerate Jakins. “We still need to gather more testimony. We are also looking closely at a video.he said. “The available evidence appears to exonerate Mr Jakins but we have yet to confirm this”added Mr. Burkett.

More than 200 people took part in this world championship, which was held in front of 2,000 spectators and raises funds for charitable organizations. The origins of the game date back to 1848 on the Isle of Wight, in the English Channel. The world championship has been organized since 1965. It has since spread outside the United Kingdom: a championship is organized each year in Dordogne, France.