Hundreds of people from across the globe are taking part in the hope of being crowned the winner
A donation of "large playing conkers" from Windsor Castle has helped ensure this year's world championships take place
There were fears the tournament, held every October in Northamptonshire, was at risk after the hot, dry summer caused conkers to fall early
Last year's King Conker – who was rocked by allegations of cheating – has been knocked out by a woman dressed as a bumble bee.
Written by Laura Devlin. Edited by James Hore
Orlando Bridgeman, known as Orlando the Conkerer, is through the quarter finals.
The lad from Northumberland, who volunteers for Oundle Mencap Holidays, said he \u201ceats conkers for breakfast and is still hungry for more\u201d.
Those wearing green bibs are still up as round two continues. They arrived as mere mortals, but someone will be going home today as a world champion.
Competitors have been lining up to go through a steel conker "detector" after last year\u2019s controversy.
It's a clever gimmick from organisers, with reports of the detector being picked up by national media.
George Sadler, Jake Garrod, Ed Kelly and Connor Brown, wanted something fun to do together.
The cloak-clad pals have travelled from across the south of England to be at the Shuckburgh Arms today.
George, 32, says they \u201cfigured it would be fun to join a team\u201d.
He means business too, adding: "If I don\u2019t win I\u2019ll be upset. I\u2019m here to win not to take part."
A little recap on Emma Roid – possibly not her real name – who we caught up with earlier.
The competitor from Liverpool, resplendent in pink hair-rollers, was gunning for the title.
So what happened?
"I got paired up with Dave Damage and he's a hardcore conker smasher, and he's smashed me out in the first round," she told our radio presenter Justin Dealey.
"I gave him a big hug – and said I'd see him outside in the car park," she joked.
After bitterly bemoaning "three-and-half hours travelling for nothing", she talks of vengeance and coming back stronger next year. Good luck, Ms Roid!
Reigning champion King Conker has been defeated by Stephanie Withall who was crowned champion 10 years ago. The Queen Bee, 48 from Burton Latimer, says she is \u201cfeeling mega and on for a win\u201d.
That's got to sting for the king.
Our radio presenter was told the breaking news live on air by a woman dressed as a squirrel. <\/p>\n
Broadcaster Mark Pougatch has presented from some of the greatest sporting occasions around the world.
He's here today as a competitor – and as a gloating parent who, unlike his son, made it through the first round.
"This is as good as the Olympics in London, or England winning the Ashes in Melbourne, or England in a European Championship final at Wembley or Berlin – this is right up there," he said.
"I think if we ever do get invaded by extra-terrestrials – just bring them here today and they will think 'what are we doing, these people are complete lunatics'.
"But it's great fun, a great laugh – we need that," he added. <\/p>\n
Orlando Bridgeman, 25, from Northumberland, has been nicknamed Orlando the Conkerer. It\u2019s his first time participating but he has reassured us it is \u201cnot the last\u201d. His friends have all joined to cheer him on. There's plenty going on here to keep the crowds entertained. Morris dancers from Peterborough are performing traditional dances with sticks and hankies.
Reigning champ David Jakins may be the focus of a lot of attention but he can't see what all the fuss is about.
Last year, he was seen with a steel conker after his win, sparking rumours of cheating – of which he was cleared.
"I can't believe it now – it was stupid," he said, clearly still annoyed.
"It was a publicity stunt, I've never seen so many press and hangers-on."
Of today, he says: "May they who pick the best conker out of the bag win."
Emma from Liverpool was the female runner up in 2022 and boldly declares: \u201cI have come back to get what is rightfully mine.\u201d
We'll keep you posted of Emma's attempts to take the crown.
Games are commencing and people are spectating as the first rounds of the championships take place.
Stormtrooper Gary Brooks has travelled from the Dark Side – well, Warrington – for his first competition.
"God help me if I need the toilet", he said of his "restrictive costume".
"We had a little bit of practice last night, probably the first time I'd played since the late 1980s, but it's like riding a bike – you never lose it.
"Given that, I can't see below my nose, it's a bit of an issue".
We're nearly two hours in on the live page, so it would be remiss not to address this burning question…
A conker is essentially the glossy brown seed from the horse chestnut tree.
According to the conservation charity, the Woodland Trust, external<\/span><\/a>, the inedible fruits are poisonous and should not be eaten by humans or dogs.
The edible sweet chestnut is not related to the horse chestnut. Their cases often contain two or three smaller nuts.They are delicious roasted.
Conkers grow inside their green spiky cases that often split revealing the shiny fruit inside upon hitting the ground. They are often referred to as nuts but technically are fruit.<\/p>\n
After it was announced black bibs are up first, people have started to practice just outside of the arena.
Stephanie may have mentioned once or twice that she was champion about 10 years ago.
"The kudos – I am a world sporting champion," she says.
"Every year it's a full-on-training regime – exercising, practicing, – no, it's good fun," she jokes.
And yes, she is dressed as bee. No reason but she's buzzing.
Each conker is threaded with a leather strip and competitors draw one from the bag
If you're of a certain age, you might recall childhood autumns of bruised knuckles as you bashed conkers with friends and siblings.
Soaking chestnuts in vinegar or even baking them to make them harder was among some of the methods used to produce a champion nut.
Essentially a piece of string is threaded through a hole in the conker and you try and bash and your opponents conker, each person taking it in turns to have a strike.
For the World Conker Championships, external<\/span><\/a>, contestants take part in a series of rounds with all conkers and laces supplied.
Conkers are drawn from a bag with players able to reject up to three conkers.
A minimum distance of no less than 8 inches (20cm) of lace (string) "must be between knuckle and nut" for striking and receiving players.
The game is decided when one of the conkers is smashed. If there is less than a third of a conker remaining it will be judged out.
The event has a tongue-in-cheek steel conker detector this year – just in case anyone was thinking of taking their chances with a replica nut.
After David Jakins won the men's championships last year, the team caught wind that he had a steel conker which may have been used to outdo his competitors.
Organiser St John Burkett said it launched a week-long investigation before eventually concluding there was no case to answer.
"This steel conker, he made it 17 years ago, he used to be a toolmaker," he said.
"It's a brilliant thing, it looks just exactly like a real conker."
An opening parade has now taken place, marking the start of today\u2019s events.
The parade includes a man dressed as a nun, alongside a firefighter and a giant yellow and black bumble bee. Yes, you read that correctly.
There were fears this year the event might have had to be cancelled due to the hot, dry British summer which caused conkers to fall<\/a> from trees early.
A nationwide hunt began, with suitably large nuts eventually being donated by the Royal estate at Windsor Castle<\/a> as well as from locations across the country, Italy and France.
Organiser Charles Whalley also said they had taken steps to ensure a plentiful supply of conkers, freezing 1,000 or so in September.
He added conkers may be smaller this year but that would not effect people's enjoyment. Play on…
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