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Berlin, Germany – The German capital hosted the world’s most popular board game competition yesterday evening, as the ‘Mensch ärgere Dich nicht’ World Championship concluded in a Berlin hotel. Mandy Kunze, a 50-year-old resident of Thiendorf, Saxony, emerged victorious, successfully defending her title and securing her second consecutive world championship win.
A Dominant Performance
According to event organizer Udo Schmitz, Kunze outperformed 177 other participants to claim the top spot. Her performance in the final was notably dominant. By the time Kunze successfully moved her fourth and final game piece into the target area, her three opponents had barely managed to secure one or two pieces each. The final match was decided in approximately 30 minutes.
The podium was completed by:
- Second Place: 84-year-old Dagmar Marten from Berlin.
- Third Place: 23-year-old Greta Komnig from Neubrandenburg.
As the winner, Kunze received a travel voucher worth 250 euros and a trophy, while those placing second through fourth were awarded game vouchers.
An Inclusive Competition
The tournament attracted a diverse group of 178 players. While the vast majority of participants were from Germany, competitors also traveled from the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. The age range of the participants was particularly striking, with the youngest competitor being 7 years old and the oldest nearly 90.
The competition structure involved four consecutive rounds, each featuring four players at a board. Participants accumulated points in each round, with the four highest-scoring individuals advancing to the final. Schmitz noted that while the preliminary rounds were characterized by a lively atmosphere, the final round was marked by intense focus and silence.
A Game with Over a Century of History
The ‘Mensch ärgere Dich nicht’ game was invented by Josef Friedrich Schmidt over 100 years ago and has been in continuous production since 1914. This year marked the third time the world championship has been held in Berlin.
Source: news.de
