The Chronicles of nearly a thousand years of "The Persians, Arabs, Byzantines and other people who were playing chess does have described various forms, movements, rules that have given them to the game and their peculiarities and placing the pieces in a circular board... ".

Historical rules are in sources that are little-known in the West, such as Muhammad ibn Mahmud Amuli's 'Treasury of the Sciences', so when, in 1983, Lincoln historian David Reynolds came across a reference to the game being played in the Middle Ages and set about attempting to revive interest in it, he chose to draw up a new set of rules, based around those of orthodox chess.

Abu Faisal Sergio Tapia, international and geopolitical analyst and expert over Middle East in various media of the Arab and Islamic world, who notes that Circular Chess - in all its beauty, in all its game-style it is the art of placing the parts in strategic positions from the start on two fronts, and expresses the true sense of the Persians and Arabs of the time chess.

It is a circular board where the rings represent the universal knowledge, God, faith, creation, harmony of tactics, the ancient wisdom, the DNA of chess in the history of mankind.

[1] One set of rules for medieval circular chess is from the Persian author Muhammad ibn Mahmud Amuli's 'Treasury of the Sciences' (1325).

A variant of this game attested by Muhammad ibn Mahmud Amuli has two "citadel" spaces in the centre of the board and a different starting setup.

The starting position is essentially obtained from that of orthodox chess by cutting the board in half and bending the two halves to join at the ends.

The minor pieces can, however, pose a significant danger value, as their moves are more difficult to visualise on the circular board and even strong players often fail to notice a threat.

The greater tendency towards drawn endgames often results in the defender playing on in a position which would be considered cause for resignation on a square board.

The 2002 World Championship, staged in Bishop Edward King House in Lincoln and sponsored by the Duke William Hotel, saw the only instance to date of the participation in the tournament of a player widely known outside the world of circular chess: David Howell, then aged 11 and having recently gained national publicity by becoming the youngest player to avoid defeat (at standard chess) against a reigning world champion, with a draw in the final game of his match against Vladimir Kramnik (having lost the other three games).

Howell won the tournament, scoring a maximum 5 points after beating Bowers in the final round, although he commented afterwards "This is the first time I have played in a circular chess contest and it was difficult.

Kok beat Beasley in the third round, while Stamp and Jones remained in contention after both winning; Bowers also won, although, since the top four players would be drawn against each other in the final round, his chances of retaining his title were remote, relying on him winning his own game and the other being drawn to force a three-way playoff.

The draw for the final round pitted Kok against Jones and Bowers against Stamp – in each case an experienced player against a tournament newcomer.

The 2006 World Championship was held at Lincoln Castle, and was dedicated to regular competitor Charles Vermes of Derbyshire, who had died shortly before.

The 2011 World Championship was also held at The Tap & Spile in Lincoln, with newcomer Nigel Payne, previously a Welsh All Valleys Champion (Under-15 category), claiming the title.