ALL GOOD THINGS...

CONTENTS
All Good Things 1
Mind Sports Olympiad Final Medal Table 1
Mind Sports Olympiad Roll of Honour 2-3
Missing in Action 4
Back to the Future 4
Dominic Insured 4

We want to do even better!

We are delighted at the response to the Mind Sports Olympiad that we have received from many of you who are here as participants or spectators. Next year we would like to make the Olympiad even bigger and at the same time to make it even more enjoyable for the participants. Can you help?

Please write to us after the Olympiad to tell us all the things that you liked about our event and any suggestions that you have to improve the Olympiad for next year. Please send your comments by letter to: Mind Sports Olympiad Ltd., PO Box 13388, London NW3 2ZF; or by fax to: 0171 482 0672; or by email to: DavidL@intrsrch.demon.co.uk.

Make a Date!

2nd Mind Sports Olympiad - 24-30 August 1998

A week of frenetic activity drew to a close with the final medal ceremony honouring the many winners of the first Mind Sports Olympiad. There have been 65 events, 39 disciplines, and over 2,000 competitors from 58 countries. Players from age 6 to 88 have taken part, watched by television crews from Brazil to China.

Indeed, media coverage of the MSO has exceeded all expectations. One of the many Americans helping to keep the wheels turning and adding to the international flavour of the event is Wilma Ward. Wilma and her harried (yet charming) staff at Yemeyah Communications have had the tough job of managing the often tumultuous press room and ensuring that the multitude of reporters and TV crews get what they want.

'Yemeyah is an African name; it stems from the Yoruba language and means Goddess of water. It was chosen because it gives a sense of no boundaries, fluidity - and the flow of creative ideas.' Clearly an ideal name for the publicity branch of the MSO!

The sporting aspect of the event has attracted the most attention, but hopefully enjoyment, the sheer pleasure of playing, has been preserved as well. The philosophy behind the scenes has accentuated the healthy exercise of the mind, with equal emphasis on Olympiad competition and the fun of games.

The human element is perhaps best captured by one of the final disciplines. In an age of increasing competition between man and machine, Fujitsu have sponsored a more egalitarian event - computer programming. This competition emphasises interaction with technology rather than confrontation. Although the MSO has experienced one or two predictable labour pains, it has emerged healthy and with prospects for a bright future. Plans are already well advanced for future event(s), and the organisation welcome the impressions and suggestions of all of those who helped to make the inaugural event such a success.

Mind Sports Olympiad Final Medal Table

MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD ROLL OF HONOUR 1997

Abalone Championship

1 M. Tastet (France) gold
2 A. Perelson (S. Africa) silver
3 G. Cottogni (Italy) bronze

Backgammon Championship

1 J. Clark (England) gold
2 M. Barkwill (England) silver
3 M. Barron (England) bronze

Backgammon Beginners

1 R. Biddle (USA) gold
2 A. Baron (England) silver
3 P. Martin (England) bronze

Backgammon Weekend

1 G. Christofides (Cyprus) gold
2 S. Rimmer (England) silver
3 L. Geoghegan (England) bronze

Bridge Duplicate Pairs

1 M. Gold/D. Higginson (England) gold
2 P. Hecht-Johansen/K. Blakset (Denmark) silver
3 M. Beyer/J. Tesselaar (Holland) bronze

Bridge Swiss Pairs

1 M. Beyer/J. Tesselaar (Holland) gold
2 G. Horscroft/M. Walsh (England) silver
3 M. Gold/D. Higginson (England) bronze

Bridge Team Championship (Sat)

1 S. Burn/P. King/T. Townsend/N. Sandqvist gold
2 S. Dannell/P. Shepperson/M. Beyer/J. Tesselaar silver
3 R. Eaton/A. Salem/Bharat/T. Nnando bronze

Bridge Team Championship (Sun)

1 S. Burn/P. King/T. Townsend/N. Sandqvist gold
2 S. Mohandes/A. Bowles/D. Stoev/H. Iukovici silver
3 M. Gold/D. Higginson/M. Beyer/J. Tesselaar bronze

Chess 30-minute

1 M. Adams (England) gold
2 M. Sadler (England) silver
3 D. Gormally (England) bronze

Chess 30-minute Junior Championship

1 L. McShane (England) gold
2-3 K. Chakraborty (India) silver
D. Tan (England) silver
4 G. Jones (England) bronze

Chess 10-minute (Sat)

1 W. Watson (England) gold
2 K. Arkell (England) silver
3 J. Plaskett (England) bronze

Chess 10-minute juniors (Sat)

1 G. Jones (England) gold
2 D. Edwards (England) silver
3 S. Ghasi (England) bronze

Chess 5-minute (Sat)

1 M. Adams (England) gold
2 M. Sadler (England) silver
3 S. Conquest (England) bronze

Chess 5-minute juniors (Sat)

1 D. Tan (England) gold
2 T. Dougherty (England) silver
3 N. Frost (England) bronze

Chess 10-minute (Sun)

1 S. Conquest (England) gold
2 M. Adams (England) silver
3 M. Hebden (England) bronze

Chess 10-minute juniors (Sun)

1 G. Jones (England) gold
2 M. Broomfield (England) silver
3 T. Hebbes (England) bronze

Chess 5-minute (Sun)

1 M. Hebden (England) gold
2 M. Adams (England) silver
3 J. Hodgson (England) bronze

Chess 5-minute juniors (Sun)

1 T. Hebbes (England) gold
2 T. Dougherty (England) silver
3 D. Tan (England) bronze

Chess Problem Solving

1 S. Conquest (England) gold
2 M. Pein (England) silver
3 K. Chakraborty (India) bronze

Chess Terafinal (Non-Olympiad event)

1 R. Cleveland (Wales) gold
2 N. Timms (England) silver
3 R. Jones (Wales) bronze

Chess Challenges (Non-Olympiad event)

1 D. Hodge (England) gold
2 L. D'Costa (England) silver
3 L. Broomfield (England) bronze

Chinese Chess Championship

1 W.W. Cheung (France) gold
2 F.Z. Chen (England) silver
3 P.L.B. Young (England) bronze

Chinese Chess Euro Championship (Non-Olympiad event)

1 Say Ty Hua (France) gold
2 W. W. Cheung (France) silver
3 Fa Zuo (England) bronze

Computer Programming Championship

1 S. Gardner (England) gold
2 S. Smith (New Zealand) silver
3 Hai Ying Liang (China) bronze

Continuo Championship

1 O. Omodera (Japan) gold
2 M. Nellthorp (England) silver
3 J. Kwee (England) bronze

Creative Thinking Championship

1 P. Bateman (S. Africa) gold
2 B. Birchall (England) silver
3 D. Holloway (England) bronze

Crossword Puzzles (Non-Olympiad event)

1 D. Howell gold
2 A. Sutherland silver
3 M. Wareham bronze

Decamentathlon

1 A. Dyson (England) gold
2 D. Hassabis (England) silver
3 B. Jacobs (England) bronze

Draughts (8x8) Championship

1 R. King (Barbados) gold
2 C. McCarrick (Ireland) silver
3 D. Harwood (England) bronze

Draughts (8x8) 10-minute (Sat)

1 R. King (Barbados) gold
2 C. McCarrick (Ireland) silver
3 P. Raivis (Latvia) bronze

Draughts (8x8) 10-minute (Sun)

1 R. King (England) gold
2 D. Harwood (England) silver
3 H. Jahu (Estonia) bronze

Draughts (10x10) Championship

1 H. Wiersma (Holland) gold
2 G. Valneris (Latvia) silver
3 I. Kirzner (Ukraine) bronze

Draughts (10x10) 10-minute (Sat)

1 A. Gantvarg (Belarus) gold
2 G. Valneris (Latvia) silver
3 I. Kirzner (Ukraine) bronze

Draughts (10x10) 10-minute (Sun)

1 A. Gantvarg (Belarus) gold
2 G. Valneris (Latvia) silver
3 I. Kirzner (Ukraine) bronze

Entropy Championship

1 M. Heasman (England) gold
2 P. Horlock (England) silver
3 S. Tavener (England) bronze

Gin Rummy Championship

1 M. Kelly (Ireland) gold
2 J. Bosley (New Zealand) silver
3 R. Hellman (England) bronze

Go (9x9) Championship

Z. Guo (Holland) gold
2 D. Ward (England) silver
3 P. Margetts (England) bronze

Go (13x13) Championship

1 S. Zhang (China) gold
2 Z. Guo (Holland) silver
3 D. Ward (England) bronze

Go (19x19) Championship

1 Z. Guo (Holland) gold
2 S. Zhang (China) silver
3 A. Goddard (England) bronze

Go (19x19) Weekend

1 Z. Guo (Holland) gold
2 S. Zhang (China) silver
3 V. Danek (Czech Rep.) bronze

Hare & Tortoise Championship

1 C. Dickson (England) gold
2 B. Croucher (England) silver
3 S. Tavener (England) bronze

IQ Championship

1 A. Walker (Scotland) gold
2 M. Isaac (England) silver
3 J. McLeod (England) bronze

IQ 1-day

1 R. Charisse (England) gold
2 B. Pridmore (England) silver
3 P. Smith (England) bronze

IQ 1-day juniors

1 W. Lo (England) gold
2 D. Leaf (England) silver
3 N. Eskuarzi (England) bronze

Japanese Chess Championship

1 E. Cheymol (France) gold
2 A. Hosking (England) silver
3 S. Lamb (England) bronze

Japanese Chess 15-minute (Sat)

1 M. Sandeman (England) gold
2 Y. Sumi (Japan) silver
3 D. Hassabis (England) bronze

Japanese Chess 15-minute (Sun) (Tie not broken - two silvers awarded)

1 M. Sandeman (England) gold
2 T. Shiose (Japan) silver
3 P. Smith (England) silver

Jigsaw Puzzles Championship

1 R. Harwood (England) gold
2 A. Smith (England) silver
3 P. Wood (England) bronze

Lines of Action Championship

1 F. Kok (Holland) gold
2 R. Wikman (Finland) silver
3 J. Bosley (New Zealand) bronze

Magic - The Gathering Championship

1 S. Dannell (England) gold
2 C.J. Tongue (England) silver
3 K. Nicholson (Scotland) bronze

Mah Jongg Championship

1 P. Leung (Hong Kong) gold
2 A. Tan (Malaysia) silver
3 R. Zuiverloow (Holland) bronze

Mastermind Championship

1 R. Coull (England) gold
2 D. De Toffoli (Italy) silver
3 B. Croucher (England) bronze

Mastermind 10-minute (Sat)

1 O. Omodera (Japan) gold
2 Y. Sumi (Japan) silver
3 R. Franzkeit (Germany) bronze

Mastermind 10-minute (Sun)

1 K. Wilshire (Wales) gold
2 R. Wikman (Finland) silver
3 W. Lo (England) bronze

Memory Skills Championship

1 D. O'Brien (England) gold
2 A. Bell (England) silver
3 D. Thomas (England) bronze

Mental Calculations Championship

1 K. Galle (USA) gold
2 R. Fountain (England) silver
3 K. Wilshire (Wales) bronze

Mental Calculations Junior Championship

1 Hao Wu (China) gold
2 D. Summers (England) silver
3 J. Keval (India) bronze

Othello Championship

1 M. Suekuni (Japan) gold
2 T. Nakajima (Japan) silver
3 M. Tastet (France) bronze

Othello Weekend

1 D. Shaman (USA) gold
2 T. Murakami (Japan) silver
3 G. Edmead (England) bronze

Owari Championship

1 J. Richards (Antigua) gold
2 I. Pacquette (Guadaloupe) silver
3 K. Bonsu (Ghana) bronze

Owari Junior Championship

1 T. Low Ten Que (England) gold
2 N. Low Ten Que (England) silver
3 M. Cornelius (England) bronze

Pentamind Championship

1 K. Wilshire (Wales) gold
2 D. Hassabis (England) silver
3 R. Wikman (Finland) bronze

Rummikub Championship

1 M. Naito (Japan) gold
2 G. Hassabis (England) silver
3 H. Kitajima (Japan) bronze

Rummikub British Championship (does not count for medal table)

1 A. Burley gold
2 J. Marchant silver
3 A. Choudhary bronze

Scrabble Championship

1 E. Simpson (England) gold
2 H. Lamabadusuriya (Sri Lanka) silver
3 M. Thompson (England) bronze

Scrabble Weekend

1 P. Appleby (England) gold
2 A. Saldanha (England) silver
3 A. Fisher (England) bronze

Skat Championship

1 H.J. Schindler (Germany) gold
2 N. Schäfer (Germany) silver
3 Dr D. Beise (Germany) bronze

Speed Reading Championship

1 A. Jones (England) gold
2 B. Mapp (England) silver
3 M. Isaac (England) silver
4 I. Stewart (England) bronze

Stratego Championship

1 P. Van Bodegom (Holland) gold
2 G. Franka (Holland) silver
3 E. Van den Berg (Holland) bronze

Stratego Junior Championship

1 R. Becks (Holland) gold
2 P. Mullenders (Holland) silver
3 F. Poppelaars (Holland) bronze

Stratego Team Championship

1 Holland gold
2 France silver
3 Germany bronze

Twixt Championship

1 A. Randolph (USA) gold
2 D. Hassabis (England) silver
3 G. Hassabis (England) bronze

Zatre Championship

1 S. Ludwig (Germany) gold
2 W. Witkowski (Germany) silver
3 D. Steuerwald (Germany) bronze

Missing in Action

In the 10-minute chess tournament yesterday, nine-year-old Gawain Jones was drawn to play The Daily Telegraph chess correspondent, Malcolm Pein, in the first round. However, due to a misunderstanding Malcolm failed to appear. He had in fact entered the chess problem solving competition instead. The irony is that earlier this Gawain set the world record as the youngest player to defeat an international master in tournament play. His victim - the very same Malcolm Pein!

Back to the Future

One of the highlights of the 1st Mind Sports Olympiad was the Skandia Knowledge Café. Gunilla Nordqvist, who was responsible for much of the construction of this fascinating site, explained the thinking behind it. 'Our main aim was to inform people about Skandia's products and especially about their concept of Intellectual Capital. Skandia is a very forward-looking company and so we set out to establish a techno-café to fit in with this image. Of course, it should also be fun!

'The brain is infinite in scope and so we wanted to create a "mind rest" area incorporating a listening wall, a massage facility and relaxation chairs, which have been specially designed by Back2 for stressed executives, housewives and anyone in need of revitalisation. The mind rest area acts as a perfect recuperation site for the competitors' hard-worked brains.'

Below: Skandia's insurance policy for a memorable brain!

(Picture not available)

THE MSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK

Skandia
Fujitsu/ICL Computers
The Times
British Airways
Silicon Graphics
Mensa - the high IQ society
Delbeck Champagne
Buzan Centres
Intelligent Research
The Brain Foundation
Chess and Bridge
Hamleys
Kasparov Chess
Save the Children
Rotary International (UK)
The Royal Festival Hall
Cresswell Associates
LGT
The Brain Trust
Yemeyah Communications
WTN
Glass Distinction
and, especially, all the staff and arbiters who have worked so hard to make this event a success.

OLYMPIAD NEWS TEAM
Editor: Jon Tisdall
Production: Byron Jacobs and Andrew Kinsman (First Rank Publishing)

We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Mind Sports Olympiad. If you have any feedback or suggestions for next year's Olympiad News, please write to: First Rank Publishing, 5 Rochester Gardens, Hove, Sussex BN3 3AW. Or e-mail: byronjacobs@compuserve.com

MIND SPORTS OLYMPIAD
PO Box 13388, London NW3 2ZF
Fax: 0171 482 0672 http://www.mindsports.co.uk/