Round 2: Tossup 12

Xerxes I was credited with inventing this activity in a treatise on it by Pedro Damiano. A Sasanian Book of the Deeds claims that Ardashir I mastered (15[1])a predecessor to this activity. 1-by-1 “citadels” are utilized in a “large” variant (15[1])of this activity named for Tamerlane. To impress Maria Theresa, (15[3])Wolfgang (15[1])von Kempelen constructed a fake automaton (15[1])that could supposedly perform this activity called the (*) Mechanical (10[1])Turk. This activity evolved from the ancient Indian chaturanga. The Spanish priest Ruy (“ROO-ee”) López names a sequence used in this game. For 10 points, the Persian “shāh māt” is the origin of what board game’s term “checkmate”? ■END■

ANSWER: playing chess [accept Great Chess or Large Chess; prompt on Shatranj or Chatrang or Chaturanga before “chaturanga” is read]
<History - Other, Khang Le> | VAULT II Packet 02
= Average correct buzzpoint

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