Marble game -- is it only a game for kids or regular sport branch? Most people remember this game from their young years. But today there are many prestigious marble tournaments around the world every year. In this article I will take a look at some facts about marble tournaments and show you how can you represent your country in these very popular events. Please keep in mind that even thought I will speak about international tournaments, you are welcome to participate!
Marble tournaments are most popular in Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Slovak Republic) and America (United States, Canada, Brazil). If you look around you will find various rules of marble game. In the Europe most countries prefer hole game (players shoot marbles to the hole), in America and United Kingdom the game called Ringer is more popular (the object of the game is to shoot small marbles in the ring out of the ring by shooter, a bigger marble). Some countries play both, hole game and Ringer (e. g. Deutsches Murmelrat - the German marble federation - has four different games).
Many marble tournaments are held in the Czech Republic. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 the Czech Marble Federation organised international tournament called Czech Open.
One year later, in 23 - 24 July 2005, the first World Marbles Championship in individual hole game took place in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. It was played on Strelecky Ostrov, the island in the Prague center. After 2 days of serious matches was known the world champion -- Svatoslav Sterba from the Czech Republic.
The second World Marbles Championship will take place in Prague too, in 22 - 23 July 2006. In fact, the participants can come sooner and enjoy the beauties of Prague and its neighbourhood. The sportground at Strelecky Ostrov is available 24/7 for training and on Friday evening, 21 July, there will official training take place.
On Saturday, 22 July, there will be opening ceremony and the championship will start by matches in groups. On Sunday it will continue by double elimination system. This day will be most important for all players because one of them will become of the world champion!
But World Marbles Championship is not only strong competition. There is enough time to discover some of hundreds sightseeings, go shopping or go to the pub with players from another countries. Because the organizers signed up a contract with quality accommodation facility, marble players can stay as long as they want and pay only 8 - 16 EUR per night.
As I said, even thought you are not professional marble player, you are welcome to come to Prague and participate! There are many countries where are marbles played by children but nobody organize the tournaments. Now you have tho opportunity to change it - come to represent your country and play with participants from another countries. For more information about World Marbles Championship and marble game rules visit official website of the Czech Marble Federation at http://www.kulicky.com/world-marbles-championship . |
