Can a modern YouTuber defeat the curator who decoded the world's oldest board game?
In short: For International Tabletop Day 2017, curator Irving Finkel challenges YouTuber Tom Scott to a match of The Royal Game of Ur. This video captures a rare showdown featuring the very expert who rediscovered the rules to this ancient pastime.
The Royal Game of Ur is widely considered the oldest playable board game in existence. Its rules were lost to history until Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum, successfully deciphered them, allowing the game to be played once more.
This match serves as a unique intersection of modern digital culture and ancient history, pitting Finkel against Tom Scott, a creator known for his diverse explorations of human-powered feats and technical challenges.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tom Scott vs Irving Finkel: The Royal Game of Ur | PLAYTHROUGH | International Tabletop Day 2017
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