Dr. Michael Nagler, contestant, said, "I have a knack of understanding the rules quickly. It's more interesting than the international chess."

Markus Brenner, psychologist, contestant and organizer, said, "I love China, I hope to make more Chinese friends through Xiangqi."

Contestants who've fallen for Xiangqi are also its biggest supporters. One of the participants is a reporter who created his own Xiangqi board and pieces. He says that playing a game of Xiangqi literally transports him back in time, to an ancient Chinese battle two thousand years ago.