A strange little side quest
A little context makes Dark Chess more fun to place on the gaming map. The word 'checkmate' is linked to the Persian expression 'shah mat', used when the king was trapped. The surprising part is how quickly the next milestone followed. Archery was already on the Olympic programme in 1900, boxing joined the modern Games in 1904, and basketball became a medal sport in 1936. That history is one reason familiar mechanics can still feel new when they are recombined well.