Crokinole

Equipment and Board Design

The board features three concentric scoring rings valued at 5, 10, and 15 points from the outer edge inward. At the very centre is a shallow recessed hole worth 20 points, often colloquially called the 'Toad' or 'Dukie'. The inner 15-point ring is guarded by eight small wooden bumpers or posts that deflect shots. The outer ring is divided into four quadrants where players begin their turns. A slightly raised outer edge surrounds the playing surface with a gutter, or ditch, to collect discs that are knocked out of play. Boards are commonly octagonal or round in shape. The playing pieces, or discs, are wooden and roughly the size of checkers, with one side often slightly concave and the other convex due to the natural grain of the wood. Historically in southwestern Ontario, these discs were sometimes called biscuits.

Some variations of the game are played with ring-shaped pieces that have a central hole, though the solid wooden disc is the standard. The discs are intentionally made slightly smaller in diameter than the board's central hole to allow them to drop in. The construction of high-quality boards is a specialized craft, with Jeremy Tracey serving as the official board builder for the World Crokinole Championships. In 2026, Tracey Boards presented a monumental 10-foot diameter crokinole board, claimed to be the world's biggest, at the championships in Tavistock, demonstrating the craft's potential for scale and spectacle.

Rules and Gameplay

Crokinole is most often played by two individuals or four players in teams of two, with partners seated opposite each other. Players take turns flicking their discs from the outer edge of their quadrant towards the centre of the board. Shooting is typically done by placing a finger against the disc and flicking it, though the use of small cue sticks is permitted in certain divisions. A fundamental rule dictates that if any opponent's discs are on the board, the shooter must make contact with one, either directly or indirectly. Failure to do so results in a foul, with the shot disc and any of the shooter's other discs moved during that turn being removed from play.

When no opponent's discs are present, many rule sets, though not all, require the player to shoot for the centre. Under these rules, a shot disc must finish either completely inside the 15-point guarded ring line or be touching this line. This is commonly called the 'no hiding' rule, as it prevents a player from placing their first shot in a defensive position that would force an opponent to traverse the guarded centre. If a disc lands completely in the recessed 20-point hole during a valid shot, it is immediately removed and counts as twenty points for that player at the end of the round.

After all discs, usually 12 per player or team, have been shot, scoring is differential. Only the player or team with the higher score gains points, equal to the difference between the two scores. The lower-scoring side receives zero points for that round. Play continues, often in a series of rounds, until a predetermined winning score is reached. This scoring system ensures that every round has a decisive winner and keeps matches competitive.

Rule Variations and the International Association

Being a grassroots game, crokinole has several accepted rule variations. The International Association of Crokinole, founded in 2009, has laid out standardized rules for tournament and competition play to provide consistency at major events. However, local and regional variations remain equally valid for casual play. The most notable regional variant is the Muskoka Variation, named for the Ontario region where it was played.

The Muskoka Variation has three key differences from standard tournament rules. First, a disc may be shot anywhere on the board on the first shot, not necessarily towards the centre, which allows for hidden discs and creates more difficult subsequent shots. Second, a player is not obligated to make contact with an enemy disc, and any disc played remains in play until it is physically knocked out. Third, if a disc goes into the 20-point hole, the subsequent opposing player gets one opportunity to attempt to knock it out with a risky, powerful flick. This rule adds a dramatic retaliatory element to the game that is not found in standard play.

The Use of Powder and Lubricants

The use of lubricating powder on crokinole boards is a subject of ongoing debate among players. Purists often revile the practice, believing it alters the traditional feel of the game. Proponents use powder to ensure pieces slide smoothly and consistently across the playing surface. Historically, boric acid was a popular choice for decades, but it is now classified as a serious health hazard, particularly in the European Union, and has been replaced by safer substitutes.

In the United Kingdom, many players use a version of anti-set-off spray powder from the printing industry. This powder has specific electrostatic properties and consists of pure food-grade plant or vegetable starch with particles about 50 micrometres in diameter. The World Crokinole Championship has a strict, detailed policy to regulate this aspect of play. Tournament organizers wax boards with paste wax as required. On tournament day, a specific brand of powdered shuffleboard wax (CAPO fast speed) is placed in the ditch area. Players are allowed to rub their discs in this provided wax prior to shooting if they desire, but contestants are expressly forbidden from applying any other lubricants of any type to the board surface themselves.

Historical Origins and Etymology

After extensive research, historian Wayne Kelly published his findings in 'The Crokinole Book', noting the earliest American crokinole board and reference is M.B. Ross's patented New York board from 1880. The earliest Canadian reference dates to 1867, as noted in 'Sports and Games in Canadian Life'. The oldest known physical artifact is the 1876 board made by Eckhardt Wettlaufer in Perth County, Ontario, crafted as a fifth birthday present for his son Adam. This board is now a key artifact at the Joseph Schneider Haus, a national historic site in Kitchener, Ontario, which focuses on Germanic folk art. Several other homemade boards from the 1870s have been discovered in southwestern Ontario since the 1990s.

Crokinole is often mistakenly believed to be of Mennonite or Amish origin. While it is popular in these communities, there is no factual data to support the claim of invention. The misconception may stem from the game being viewed as an innocuous pastime, unlike card playing or dancing, which were considered suspect by some 19th-century Protestant groups. The oldest roots of the game, from the 1860s, suggest British and South Asian games like carrom are the most likely antecedents for what later became crokinole in Canada.

The name 'crokinole' derives from the French word 'croquignole'. In historical French, 'croquignole' designated the action of flicking or filliping with a finger, which is the principal action in the game. The word also refers to a kind of cookie or biscuit in France and a type of pastry in French Canada. In the Plautdietsch language spoken by Russian Mennonites, the game is called 'knipsbrat' (flick-board) or occasionally 'knipsdesh' (flick-table). The game's heartland spans the border region of Ontario, Quebec, and New York State, all popular areas for play.

The World Crokinole Championship

The premier event for the sport is the World Crokinole Championship (WCC), held annually on the first Saturday of June in Tavistock, Ontario, since 1999. Tavistock was chosen as the host city because it was the home of Eckhardt Wettlaufer. The tournament has seen registration from every Canadian province, several American states, and countries including Germany, Australia, Spain, the UK, and Japan. The 2026 event, scheduled for June 6, will be the 25th championship, continuing its tradition as the game's most significant international gathering.

The WCC singles competition for competitive adult players begins with a qualifying round where each competitor plays 10 matches against randomly assigned opponents in a large field. At the end of this round, the top 16 competitors advance to the playoffs. The playoff format narrows the field to a final round-robin among the top four players, and the top two from that round robin compete in a final match to determine the champion. The WCC doubles competition follows a similar structure, with a qualifying round of 8 matches and the top six teams advancing to a playoff round robin to determine the champions.

The championship features multiple divisions to accommodate all skill levels and ages. These include competitive adult singles (finger-shooting), recreational singles for novices, intermediate singles (ages 11-14), junior singles (ages 6-10), and a separate category for cue-shooters (cues singles). Parallel doubles divisions exist for competitive, recreational, youth (ages 6-16), and cues play. The tournament also awards a special prize for the top 20-hole shooter in the qualifying round of the competitive singles, recreational singles, cues singles, intermediate singles, and junior singles divisions, recognizing precision shooting.

The National Crokinole Association and Tour

The National Crokinole Association (NCA) is an association that supports existing crokinole clubs and fosters the development of new clubs and tournaments. The majority of NCA events are based in Ontario, Canada. The NCA has also held sanctioned events in other Canadian provinces like Prince Edward Island and British Columbia. Furthermore, the NCA has held events in American states such as New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Delaware. The collection of NCA tournaments is referred to as the NCA Tour. The association has released the finals from the 2026 Louisville Singles championship, a tier three NCA event, featuring a match between players Mark Harper and Jamie Harter.

The collection of NCA-sanctioned tournaments is referred to as the NCA Tour. Each tour season is a continuous cycle that begins at the World Crokinole Championship in Tavistock in June and concludes at the Ontario Singles Crokinole Championship the following May. Players earn points based on their results at each tournament, which accumulate towards their season-ending ranking classification. The 2026 to 2027 NCA Tour season is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with events already planned for cities like Columbus, Ohio, and Newark, Delaware. Other notable tournaments on the circuit include the Forest City Flickers London Crokinole Championship, scheduled for March 29, 2026, in London, Ontario.

Crokinole in Media and Popular Culture

Crokinole's cultural footprint extends beyond the tournament scene. In 2006, a documentary film titled 'Crokinole' was released, with its world premiere at the Princess Cinema in Waterloo, Ontario. The film followed several competitors as they prepared for the 2004 World Crokinole Championship, offering an inside look at the dedication of the players and the community surrounding the game. The game is also featured in historical publications and is the subject of dedicated online resources, forums, and video channels that analyze technique and tournament matches.

The game's appeal as a family pastime and competitive sport continues to grow, supported by dedicated manufacturers, retailers, and publications. Wayne Kelly's 'The Crokinole Book', now in its third edition, remains a definitive historical resource. Online communities such as Crokinole Canada and The Crokinole Depot, along with skill competition videos, help maintain and spread interest. Its status as a distinctly Canadian game is reinforced by its historical roots in 19th-century Ontario and its ongoing celebration through national and international competitions that attract a global following, ensuring its place in Canadian recreational heritage.

Questions about Crokinole

What is the objective of crokinole?

The objective is to score points by flicking your wooden discs onto the circular board, aiming to land them in the higher-scoring rings, particularly the central 20-point hole. Players also try to knock their opponent's discs off the board into the surrounding ditch. Scoring is differential at the end of each round, with only the higher-scoring player or team gaining points equal to the difference between the two scores. The game requires a blend of offensive scoring and defensive displacement to win.

Where was crokinole invented?

While the exact origins are debated, the earliest known physical crokinole board was made in 1876 in Perth County, Ontario, by craftsman Eckhardt Wettlaufer. There is a Canadian reference to the game from 1867. A similar game was patented in the United States by Joshua K. Ingalls in 1880. The game's development is deeply rooted in 19th-century southwestern Ontario, though its antecedents are likely older British and South Asian games like carrom from the 1860s.

When and where is the World Crokinole Championship held?

The World Crokinole Championship (WCC) is held annually on the first Saturday of June in Tavistock, Ontario. The tournament was first held in 1999. The 2026 championship, the 25th edition, is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Tavistock Arena. Tavistock was chosen as the host city because it was the hometown of Eckhardt Wettlaufer, maker of the oldest known board. The event draws competitors from across Canada and around the world.

Can you use cue sticks to play crokinole?

Yes, crokinole can be played using small cue sticks, though finger-flicking is the more common method. The World Crokinole Championship includes specific divisions for cue stick shooters, labelled 'cues singles' and 'cues doubles'. These categories allow players who prefer using a cue to compete separately from those who shoot with their fingers. The rules for cue shooting are otherwise identical to the finger-flicking game.

What is the National Crokinole Association (NCA)?

The National Crokinole Association is the governing body that supports crokinole clubs and tournaments, primarily in North America. It sanctions a series of events known as the NCA Tour, which runs from June one year to May the next. While most events are in Ontario, the NCA has also held tournaments in other Canadian provinces and several American states. It maintains player rankings based on tournament results and promotes the growth of the game.

What is the oldest crokinole board and where is it kept?

The earliest known crokinole board was made by craftsman Eckhardt Wettlaufer in 1876 in Perth County, Ontario, Canada. It is said Wettlaufer crafted the board as a fifth birthday present for his son Adam. This historic board is now part of the collection at the Joseph Schneider Haus, a national historic site in Kitchener, Ontario. The Joseph Schneider Haus has a focus on Germanic folk art.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.