It is thought that the game (or it's forerunner) originated some way to the east of Melton and Rutland ... in Greece, Persia or beyond ...
One popular legend goes thus: a wise sage invented the game for an Indian king, who admired it so much that he had chessboards placed in all the temples. Wishing to reward the sage, the monarch told him to ask for anything he desired. Rather than choosing riches or fame, he asked: "My wish is that one grain of wheat shall be put on the first square of the chessboard, two on the second, and that the number of grains shall be doubled until the last square is reached - whatever quantity this might be, I desire to receive it." Now maths wasn't the king's strong suit. He reckoned they were talking about a few sacks of wheat. He was humbled when he realised that all the wheat in the world would not suffice! (Apparently the total was a colossal 18,446,744,073,709, 551,615 grains, (almost the number of games that our WebMaster lost last season). He commended the sage for devising such a wish ...!