SOME WORDS OF MR. JOSÉ ANTONIO GARZÓN ROGER

The work of Govert Westerveld published in 1997 is, in our opinion, one of the deepest, documented and rigorous investigations that have never been realized on the History of Chess or of Checkers (Draughts).

In this work he had studied and indexed next to 1.000 books relative to History, Bibliography, Technical Works, Literature, General Culture, etc.
Govert Westerveld demonstrates a deep knowledge of the ancient, medieval, Renaissance games of board, apart from an exquisite erudition of the History of Spain that many wanted already to possess, included historians, of our country.

So trying to contest the ideas of Govert Westerveld criticizing that one cannot believe that a great lady, the Queen Isabel la Católica, is the stimulus of the great revolution that suffered the chess at the end of the XVth century, and whose corollary was, following Westerveld, the birth of the checkers game a few years later, and to think in this way, without supporting arguments or proofs that validate these ideas, then this looks to us like a slightly serious exposition, and this supposes, in any case, a disrespect to the enormous effort that for so many years Govert Westerveld has invested, whose determination is unbreakable, in search of the truth, without importing the obstacles for him, many of them, which they have ill-disposed put in his way. It is necessary to save the barrier of the Spanish language and to have a knowledge of the History of Spain in the XVth and XVIth centuries, where Spain was the hegemonic nation, not alone politically speaking, but also in the field of the lettering and the culture, before being able to think and criticize with reasons.

It is not a question of a theory or hypothesis that could be compared, for example, to that of those who have suggested the candidacy, under the same prism of the powerful lady, of Jeanne d'Arc. All that without proofs, without documents, without studies, without any connection between the candidate and the game of the chess, without coincidence in the time.

Westerveld was the first one in emphasizing, with steadfastness and proofs, the connection between the modern chess and the birth of the checkers game, vindicating the Spanish origin of all this.

When he saw that an idea or hypothesis needed more investigation he was the first in suggesting and in proclaiming it. When he was receiving a founded critique, such was his investigator's height, he did not have any prejudice in rectifying, if it was necessary. Iron will, deep work and extreme honesty with his procedure of conducting in the investigation. A model that we should look with admiration and gratitude.

The last investigations of his unsuccessful friend - and our friend - Ricardo Calvo, as well as our own published ones, were convergent processes with his works. Our investigations and those of Ricardo were giving the reason to Govert Westerveld.

The novel ideas of Govert Westerveld do not highlightling only, it is worthwhile to clarify this, the discovery of the important role that the Queen Isabel had in the great revolution that originated in the small kingdom of the board, luminous and fecund finding. Govert Westerveld did ask himself much more questions. And he looks for all the responses.
Govert Westerveld leads us by centuries, formerly of confusion for the board and lined games, with firm and documented steps, up to the decisive and real moment of the creation of the checkers game, demonstrating his connection with the origin of modern chess.

This connection comes repeated and confirmed.. The time has ended for giving the definitive reason to Westerveld, by means of new documents, recently found and still in phase of study. We can affirm, without staggering that the History of Chess and that onef¡ of Chec kers will not be more the same. These new proofs grant the definitive support to the investigations of Westerveld.

It is now the moment to eradicate false truths with centuries of unjust adoration.
It is a time for reflection, of joining forces, of leaving sterile battles. It is a moment of pride before a truth that cannot remain anymore secret, or without recognition, in more time.
It is also the moment to be grateful to Govert Westerveld for all his effort and firmness. His unpayable dedication of so many years.

José A. Garzón