Concours Championship Chestnut-of-Steel caught in the act of cheating

“We think he's innocent, but we're just checking,” said St. John Burkett, media representative for the World Conquer Championship, which held its annual tournament in England on Sunday. Men's winner David Jakins denied the allegations.

In short, conkers are a contest of strength and precision. Two players wielding a chestnut hanging from a string or leather band hit the other's hanging chestnut – also known as a conker – with their own.

Jokins, who won the men's division of the tournament on Sunday after four decades of trying to crack that nut, was accused of cheating by an opponent who expressed concern about a steel Conquer found in Jokins' possession. Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, one of Sunday's competitors, told The Telegraph that his sternum was “broken in one blow” in his final fight with Jakins.

Jakins, known as “King Conquer” because of his enthusiasm and passion for the game, admitted to carrying around a metal conquer, but called it a lucky charm and a goofy prop, according to reports citing event organizers.

“He has a comedy-value metal conch that he uses to show off and show off to kids,” Neil Horton, the landlord of the house where the show was hosted, told NPR. “We are sure it was not used, but the investigation is ongoing.”

“It looks exactly like a real Conqueror,” said Burkett, wearing a hat decorated with chestnuts, in an interview with The Guardian. “Same strong, same colorful. And so the suspicion was raised that he used that steel conker instead of the real one for the game.”

In accordance with the rules of the World Conquer Championship, the use of conkers and laces in competition is provided by the organization. Laces must not be tampered with by players and conkers are drawn blindly from a bag. Jackins, however, helped prepare Conquerors for the event, complicating questions of integrity surrounding the tournament.

“The king conker is responsible for drilling and stringing the conkers before the competition,” Burkett said. “Did he mark the laces? we don't know We don't think so.”

Cheating would have been difficult, Burkett noted, given that Jackins was surrounded by judges and umpires who closely monitored the nut shaker.

“He could draw a conker that was a good 'un, and easily break another with one shot,” Burkett explained. “He has a super technique, just a very hard downward swipe.”

According to the World Conquer Championship website, Conquerors may begin playing — pecans? – Mid 1800s. The World Conquer Championship did not begin until 1965, when a group of fishermen, faced with inclement weather, took up the sport. Prize money was paid, and a collection taken up to help the blind. Thus began the annual competition, which raises money for several charities.

Jakins was the overall winner in the men's division before going nut-to-nut with newly crowned women's group champion Kelsey Banschbach. Banschbach eventually triumphed over Jakins to become the victorious (conquer-ing) queen – and the first American to win the championship.

For those who want to go Conquering closer to home, the North American Conquer Championships will be held in Nova Scotia on Saturday.