First-time contender crowned World Conker Champion

Laura Devlinnorthamptonshire

Aimee Dexter/BBC A man and a woman sitting in chairs with Queen Conker and King Conker written on the back. They both hold silver cups in their hands, wear crowns and smile. He has long gray hair and wears glasses, a brown jacket and jeans. He has a dark beard and wears a green sweater and blue jeans. — The King and Queen were crowned after a six-hour fight

The new King and Queen Conker were crowned after fierce competition at the World Conker Championship.

Hundreds of competitors took part in the challenge in Northamptonshire in the event’s 60th year. last year’s cheating scandal.

Men’s winner Matt Cross, from Bourne, Lincolnshire, became the overall World Conker Champion, beating women’s winner Mags Blake from Corby in the final showdown.

“I’m certainly not speechless,” said Mr. Cross, 37, a newcomer to the competition that returns players and champions each year.

Competitors take part in the first round of the annual World Conker Championships in Southwick

Reuters Two people wearing green aprons play horse chestnuts and watched by smiling spectators — Competitors take part in the first round of the annual World Conker Championships in Southwick

“I was expecting to get out in the first or second round, but every round I tried one more time and it just snowballed,” Mr Cross added.

When asked about his tactics, he said it was “only force and accuracy.”

“A lot of these are games of chance and your opponent is in the same boat as you,” Mr. Cross said.

Individual Conkers, many of whom were donated this year from the royal estate at Windsor, stand out from the competition

Aimee Dexter/BBC Conkers pour out of a black bag. Each lined with black lace — Individual Conkers, many of whom were donated this year from the royal estate at Windsor, stand out from the competition

Former King Conker David Jakins was stunned by the “steel conker” craze that cleared him last year

Reuters A man wearing a yellow and black bowler hat with a string of horse chestnuts around his neck, a black sleeved hand and arm holds a horse chestnut, watching two horse chestnuts curl towards each other. — Former King Conker David Jakins was stunned by the “steel conker” craze that cleared him last year

Among those competing was sports broadcaster Mark Pougatch, who missed out “by a long shot” after losing to Finn Vergalen in the quarter-finals.

Mark Pougatch moments before his defeat against Finn Vergalen, whose ponytail was now a thread

Aimee Dexter/BBC Two men wearing black and orange aprons playing buckeyes and a crowd of spectators in the background — Mark Pougatch moments before his defeat against Finn Vergalen, whose ponytail was now a thread

Places are filling up quickly for the 2025 contest, with organizers promoting King Conker, who was accused of cheating with a steel nut last year.

David Jakins, 84, was eventually cleared and returned to Southwick, near Oundle, to defend his crown on Sunday, but was knocked out in the first round by a woman dressed as a bee.

There were fears that the event would be canceled for only the third time in its history as horse chestnuts fell from the trees early due to the hot and dry summer.

A nationwide hunt ensued and eventually nuts of suitable size were donated from the royal estate at Windsor Castle as well as from various parts of the country, Italy and France.