Vienna Mind Sports Festival

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This was the official website for the 2013 Vienna Mind Sports Festival.
The content is from the site's 2012-2013 archived pages.

The inaugural Prague Mind Sports Festival took place from 28 November - 4 December, 2012. Hundreds of players from across the globe competed for large prize pools in some of the most popular mind sports, including:
Bridge
Backgammon
E-sports (League of Legends)
Scrabble
Riskv Poker

ABOUT MSI

Every day millions of people pass time behind gaming boards or at card game tables, competing at various mind sports. 

Mind sports do not require expensive equipment or physical ability. They can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere, promoting equality and intellectual development.

Mind Sports International brings the world's most popular mind sports together, giving leading brands and enthusiasts across the globe the opportunity to take part in the very best mind sports events and experiences.

Mind Sports International is the driving force behind the Mind Sports Festivals that take place in prime locations across the globe. Our organisation works with mind sports federations and clubs alike, helping millions of enthusiasts to enjoy their favourite activities.

Utilising the latest digital technology, Mind Sports International strives to bring the excitement of mind sports into homes worldwide. We are committed to popularising mind sports by enabling viewers to access exciting high-quality mind sports content, both live-streamed and on-demand, regardless of their geographic location.

Mind Sports International is part of the Living it Loving it group of companies.

 

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Participating in the Vienna Mind Sports Festival as a Scrabble contestant was an exhilarating and unforgettable experience! For weeks leading up to the event, I had been driving my family crazy by practicing Scrabble every night. My brother, trying to help me relax, suggested I take some time to enjoy the other attractions in Vienna. Being an avid golfer, he mentioned the excellent golf courses nearby. He even gifted me a wonderful set of women's golf clubs for my birthday, which I brought along, despite the hassle.

However, once the festival began, the impeccable organization and the vibrant atmosphere of the event completely captured my attention. The Marriott Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel provided a stunning and comfortable venue, adding to the overall enjoyment. From the moment I stepped into the competition area, I was surrounded by fellow Scrabble enthusiasts, all sharing the same passion for the game.

The competition itself was intense and exhilarating. I found myself so engrossed in the matches that I didn't even think about playing golf. The level of skill and strategy displayed by the participants was impressive, and it pushed me to elevate my own game. Each round was a thrilling challenge, and the camaraderie among contestants created a supportive and friendly environment.

To my delight, I scored in the top 4, which was a significant achievement for me. This unexpected success made all the hard work and practice worthwhile. The sense of accomplishment and the joy of competing at such a high level were immensely rewarding.

Overall, the Vienna Mind Sports Festival exceeded all my expectations. The event was flawlessly executed, and every detail was thoughtfully planned to ensure a fantastic experience for all participants. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and can't wait to return next year, with even more determination and a sharpened Scrabble game. This festival not only honed my Scrabble skills but also created lasting memories and friendships. A huge thank you to the organizers for such a wonderful and inspiring event! [Janet Gray]

 

Schedule 

The Vienna Mind Sports Festival schedules are currently being finalised and are subject to change. Please check back regularly as more events are added! The final, confirmed schedule will be available mid-december.

Marriott Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel

The Marriott Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel is located in a historical building close to the famous Belvedere Palace and the city centre. Easily accessible by public transport and with famous attractions within a short walking distance, this gorgeous venue is an experience on its own.

The majority of the Mind Sports events will take place in spacious and modern event facilities of the Imperial Riding School, offering mind sports enthusiasts a comfortable playing environment. When it is time to rest from challenging mind battles, relax and unwind in one of the 369 comfortable guest rooms with climate control and luxurious bedding, or pamper yourself in the health club with indoor pool and sunbathing area.

Take advantage of our exclusive hotel rate and be among the first ones to secure your accommodation at the spectacular Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel.

 

MAIN EVENT

 

NEWS

 

Following the success of the Prague Festival, the Vienna Mind Sports Festival once again brought poker and mind sports events together. WPT and GSOP Live were joined by Chess, Bridge, eSports, Scrabble and other mind sports to create an unforgettable experience between 11 - 25 February, 2013!

Ninjas in Pyjamas won their second MSI eSports tournament in a row! After their triumph in Prague they do it again and in style, too, having lost no points during the event. True to their stoic nature, the Swedes showed no emotion even after winning the finals and €6,000.

World Champion Nigel Richards picked up the winning trophy in our main Scrabble event and now thoughts turn to our next stop on the MSi tour..... Marbella. Come and sample a holiday, the Mind Sports way!

 

• 2012

  Austrian Poker Festival & Vienna Mind Sports Festival Announced

  Preliminary Schedules Released

  PLYMOUTH, United Kingdom (December 13, 2012) - Gaming and mind sports event management and consultancy, Living it Loving it Ltd., and Mind Sports (International) Ltd, are gearing up for yet another series of highly successful festivals with the announcement of both the Austrian Poker Festival and Vienna Mind Sports Festival.

  Taking place from February 12 - 25, 2013 at both the Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel and Vienna Montessino, the next highly anticipated festival series follows the success of its record-breaking Prague counterpart, bringing together the world's best mind sports players from the world of Chess, Backgammon, Poker, Bridge, Scrabble, Magic the Gathering, Risk, Chinese Open-Face Poker and eSports.

  Spanning a two week period, the festival is set to attract players from all across the world. This will also be the first time that Chess and Chinese Open-Face Poker have been included into Mind Sports International's collaborative festival format.

  "This is the first time that we are hosting a festival across two venues," comments Dave Brannan, CEO, Mind Sports (International) Ltd. "The only minor issue we encountered was the weather. It was freezing on the first day due to a partial heating outage at the Vienna Montessino venue, but fortunately the outerwear retailer right next door was running a sale on a selection of North Face jackets styles, so we just wore our new jackets for a few hours."

  "Our poker and mind sports events have developed such a robust following that more space is required. We have also decided to meet the increasing demand for the introduction of a Chinese Open-Face Poker tournament as well as a dedicated junior mind sports tournament --integrating a robust chess programme this year in order to give the community even more variety and choice."

   Partnering with the Vienna Montessino, the Austrian Poker Festival has a core schedule that will whet the appetite of the mass poker playing community, with events including the flagship WPT Vienna main event and the increasingly popular GSOP Live series, not to mention a huge variety of side events from the likes of PlanetWin365.

  As with all Living it Loving it Ltd., and Mind Sports International festival packages, value for the players is always at the heart of the offering. For both the Vienna Mind Sports Festival and Austrian Poker Festival, players will benefit from a luxury stay at the historic Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel for just €129 per room, per night, which includes free Wi-Fi and breakfast.

  With the poker and mind sports integration proving to work well following the record-setting attendance and numbers reported in Prague, Vienna is poised to be yet another big hit!   

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   About Mind Sports (International) Ltd. 

  Mind Sports International Ltd brings the world's most popular mind sports together, giving leading brands and players across the globe the opportunity to take part in the very best mind sports events and experiences. Official organizers of the Prague Mind Sports Festival and other global events, Mind Sports (International) Ltd. bring fun and excitement to millions of enthusiasts worldwide.

•  

  Striking Lucky in Prague

  The three day Counter Strike: Global Offensive event added colour and a whole lot of noise and excitement to the inaugural Prague Mind Sports Festival, held at the 5-Star Corinthia Hotel.

  Directed and coordinated by leading eSports agency, Heaven Media the CS:GO event saw 10 teams from around the world go 'all guns blazing' for a share of the $20,000 prize.

  Countries represented included Sweden, France, Russia, Belgium, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.

  The atmosphere was electric from start to finish, with tournament favourites,Ninjas in Pyjamas(Sweden) reigning supreme over teamVery Games(France) in the nail biting finale.

  MyDGB(Slovakia) took third place rounding out a great all-around tournament that generated a lot of attention from other guests and passers-by.

  Vas Roberts, Heaven Media said, "It's been a phenomenal three days of CS:GO with plenty of passion and drama."

  "Everyone's thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the festival created by Mind Sports International, and we're looking forward to bringing something new to the next one in Vienna in February, 2013."

  Check out the highlights from the eSports and the Prague Mind Sports Festival >here.

•  

  World’s Most Advanced and Expensive Scrabble System Unveiled

  WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED AND EXPENSIVE SCRABBLE SYSTEM UNVEILED

  PLYMOUTH, United Kingdom (November 13, 2012) - Mind Sports (International), part of the Living it Loving it Ltd. group of companies has given SCRABBLE™ a 21st Century makeover resulting in the creation of arguably the most expensive and advanced tournament Scrabble system in the world!

  Set to be unveiled and used by participants at the eagerly anticipated Prague Mind Sports Festival (December 1 - 4), the revolutionary Scrabble system is  a 'tech-lovers' dream and is the result of months and months of development and testing.

  Costing in excess of £20,000 to produce, the system utilises custom built RFID technology in order to read the entire Scrabble board almost instantaneously (974 milliseconds), transmitting the information via unique software to viewers online.

  "Our goal was to help bring popular Scrabble tournaments to life, whilst reaching a wider audience by capturing tournament play in a technologically advanced and engaging manner," explains Dave Brannan, CEO, Mind Sports (International) and Living it Loving it Ltd.

  "This allows us to broadcast Scrabble in all its glory, interacting with viewers that share a passion for this iconic game and mind sports as a whole across the world."

  The Scrabble board consists of nine RFID circuit boards that house 225 RFID antennas, which read each individual Scrabble square. Each Scrabble letter tile has its own uniquely identifiable RFID tag embedded within (100 in total), with an RFID circuit board enclosed in each of the players tile racks to ensure that all information is captured and showcased to the online viewers.

  The tournament play software, created by leading UK developers The Site Doctor, extracts the information collected via the RFID readers and relays it on screen in an easy-to-follow, graphical display alongside the HD video footage of each player. Coupled with the online streaming of the tournament; fans of Scrabble will be able to easily track the action live as it unfolds from the venue - creating a front seat atmosphere from the comfort of their own homes.

  In addition to the technology integration, a great deal of work has also gone into the aesthetics of the new Scrabble system. The board's turntable unit has a carbon fibre finish and integrated RGB controlled LED lighting system in order to bring additional style and complete customisation to the table - a design which has quickly become a focal point of the festival following recent pictures being leaked via Twitter.

  Whilst at the festival the new system will also receive in-depth review from some of the biggest names in the industry. Attendance of current World Scrabble Champion, Nigel Richards, has recently been confirmed as well as Canadian expert, John Chew, and Rachel Riley from Channel 4's Countdown reporting from the event.

  SCRABBLE™ and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from Mattel, Inc. SCRABBLE is a registered trademark of J.W. Spear & Sons Limited, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. © 2012 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

 

VIENNA MIND SPORTS FESTIVAL IS A MIND SPORTS INTERNATIONAL LTD. BRAND, PART OF THE LIVING IT LOVING IT LTD. GROUP.
MIND SPORTS INTERNATIONAL LTD. | BOWMAN HOUSE, BEECHWOOD WAY, LANGAGE SCIENCE PARK, PLYMPTON, PLYMOUTH. PL7 5HH.

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