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Pictures
See some pictures of the event as it happens!
For results
Email results@mindsports.com.au to receive result tables and files.
Click HERE to download the Australian Record for correctly recalling PI set in 2006.
Please leave us your feedback:
T 9578 6203
F 9576 8152
M 0411 877 833
About
the Medal Sports
Chinese Chess, Backgammon, Kaleidoscope, Diplomacy, Scrabble, Draughts,
Stratego, Memory, Gobblet, Sudoku, Othello, Tantrix, Chess, Poker & Go.
Chess
Chess is the king of games in terms of its image around the world. It can
be played by anyone, anywhere and at any age. In Australia there are 22,254
rated tournament players (4233 from Victoria. While junior chess has been
flourishing, and anywhere up to half the players in a tournament now being
under 18, female participation is still low. At the lowest standard female
participation is around 20% but declines sharply as seriousness of the
event grows. Chess is being taught at about 1000 schools around Australia.
A series of interschool championships is run in each state and an additional
15,000 kids play chess through schools around Australia. This is one of
the few games with no element of luck!
Scrabble
Scrabble clubs and associations have about the same number of players as
chess, but unlike chess where up to half the tournament players are juniors
these days, scrabble is a more difficult game for young children to play.
The National Scrabble Championships had 240 participants, and only 1 player
under 16 years of age. Like bridge, scrabble is predominantly played by
older, female participants. Skills required include memory, pattern recognition
and of course a way with words!
Poker
With a high degree of luck in any individual hand some discount this
gambling game as a game of luck. However in ‘no-limit’ poker the best
players will take all the chips 80% of the time. Poker and backgammon,
having a luck element, are usually played with a large number of rounds
by comparison to skill only games such as chess. Most tournament players
play online through a number of sites, gambling for real $’s. Crown
Casino has been running poker tournaments a few times a week and runs
a Melbourne Millions ($10,000 buy-in event) in January. The popularity
of
Poker has grown considerably with recent extensive TV Coverage.
Go
An Asian game with complexity far greater than that of chess, which sometimes
scares people away. The beauty and enjoyment of this game come from seeing
deeper than most people will ever consider. There are 2 or 3 big tournaments
(60-100 players) in each year (sponsored events) usually sponsored by the
same companies (NEC and Toyota) as part of an International Go circuit.
This game is big in Japan, China, Korea and also known as Wei-Chi. It is
seen as a far more intellectually high-brow game than chess.
Backgammon
Another game with an element of luck (due to the roll of the dice), but
in fact requiring many strategic ideas. Traditionally played as a gambling
game and in a knock-out format when played competitively.
Chinese Chess
The Asian variant of Western Chess, 2000 years old, and not well known
in western society. A dynamic, attacking game where all out war is not
always the answer!
Diplomacy
A well organised hobby with many keen players.
This involves a map of Europe at the turn of the 20th century and the
political situation that
followed
(war!). Each turn involves a negotiation period and then all the players’ moves
are revealed simultaneously.
Tantrix
A puzzle-type game which can be played solitaire or up to 4 players. There
are online tournaments and an OTB (Over the board) tournament was held
in the UK and as part of the MSO but never in Australia. It is an easy
to learn, fun game which is sold to schools as a pattern recognition, skills
development tool for kids to learn as they play.
Othello
Also known as Reversi (similar games), this strategy game takes a minute
to learn, but a lifetime to master.
Memory
A tough event run by “Gloo”. Played
over multiple disciplines it involves remembering a lot of things in
a short space of time!
Trivia
A popular hobby and pastime as seen by many TV game-shows, the popularity
of Quizzes, Trivia nights as fund-raisers and in pubs.
Draughts / Checkers
Ever popular simple strategy game. This can be played on an 8 x 8 or a
10 x 10 board, which makes some difference.
Stratego
A classic family board-game. Some element of
memory involved, but most of the strategy comes in the first phase of
the game where each player
gets to distribute their army (invisible to the opponent) before the
war commences. Easy to learn and fun to play.
