The turnout wasn’t exactly that fantastic. In fact, it was less than the previous month. Perhaps it was due to the H1N1 scare. Or perhaps people have already decided to concede to Prakash and didn’t bother to turn up.

Nevetheless, after a short briefing by the organisers, the competition started.

With the 7 games being contested of various game duration, it was important to strategize which games to compete in. After all, points were awarded based on the position you achieve in the game, the number of games you played in, and the duration of the games.

I joined a table to play “Settlers of Catan” while the other table started playing “For Sale”. I knew it was a foolish move to play that long game but then again, having fun today was more important than winning.

With seven heads pondering (and calculating) over every move, the game was closely matched. The luck of the dice roll (or perhaps my lack of skills) meant that I was always chasing the game. Progress was slow and I was just hoping for someone to end the game quickly.

While everyone was closely guarding the leading Sharon, our dear Patrick delivered an ambush at the final sprint and came up victorious.

That turned out to be crucial as it gave him enough points to emerge as the first runner-up in the overall standings.

It took us a solid 2.5hrs to complete the game.

Over at the other table, the other competitors were happily speeding through their games. In the time it took us to complete the Settlers of Catan game, the other group had already completed close to 8 games.

Our group then went to blitz through a few games of “Baker’s Dozen”, a quick moving game with not much thinking involved. I managed to devour the most number of donuts and finished with no points for two of the games.

Another participant from another table, Jin Sheng, said that the donuts in Baker’s Dozen looked very tasty and he was distracted by them. So he was busily  collecting donuts instead of trying to win the game. Although he did not win the game, he did ended with the most donuts for all colours(including green).

The results are as follows (no kelong, results are audited):

Lucky Draw

Top prize: Prakash
Consolation prize: Jin Sheng, Max, Patrick

Game Rankings

1st: Chin Siang
2nd: Patrick
3rd: Charlotte

Best Sportsmanship Award:

Chin Siang

The number of stars is based on the duration of the game, to be fair
to those players who choose longer games to play. By 5.30pm, all games
have to end and finishing positions will be decided depending on the
victory conditions for each game. If we are unable to determine
finishing positions, for example for Saboteur where there is no clear
winner, no points will be awarded for the game.

Settlers of Catan - 90 minutes; Up to 6 players ******

In Settlers of Catan, players try to be the dominant force on the
island of Catan by building settlements, cities, and roads. On each
turn, dice are rolled to determine the resources the island produces.
Players collect these resources to build up their civilizations to get
to 10 victory points and win the game.

Citadels - 60 minutes; Up to 7 Players ****

Players seek to build a collection of districts worth from one to
eight points. Once someone has built eight districts, the game is over
after that round ends. The player with the highest total value wins.
To facilitate the process and make the game interesting, players will
sequentially choose a character from a rapidly dwindling pool of eight
each turn. The characters give players special abilities for the turn.

Bohnanza - 45 minutes; Up to 7 Players ***

As card games go, this is revolutionary. Perhaps its oddest feature is
that you cannot rearrange your hand, as you need to play the cards in
the order that you draw them. The cards are colorful depictions of
beans in various descriptive poses, and the objective is to make coins
by planting fields (sets) of these beans and then harvesting them. To
help players match their cards up, the game features extensive trading
and deal making.

For Sale - 30 minutes; Up to 6 Players **

For Sale is a quick, fun game nominally about buying and selling real
estate. During the game’s two distinct phases, players first bid for
several buildings, then, after all buildings have been bought, sell
the buildings for the greatest profit possible.

King Me! - 30 minutes; Up to 6 Players **

With the announcement of the King’s retirement, the pirouette for
succession begins! All of his subjects from cobbler to cook, painter
to paladin, debutante to duchess bustle about the castle in
preparation for the succession. One of your favorites can attain the
throne. But, beware! It will require clever maneuvering and selective
positioning to be in the right place at the right time to achieve the
crown!

Saboetuer - 30 minutes ; Up to 10 Players **

Players take on the role of dwarves. As miners, they are in a mine,
hunting for gold. Suddenly, a pick axe swings down and shatters the
mine lamp. The saboteur has struck. But which of the players are
saboteurs? Will you find the gold, or will the fiendish actions of the
saboteurs lead them to it first? After three rounds, the player with
the most gold is the winner.

Baker’s Dozen - 30 minutes; Up to 6 Players **

A clever strategy card game. Players choose a donut from their hand to
add to one of three colored piles, being careful not to let the pot go
over a total value of 13. The player who causes the pile to go over 13
must take all of the cards within it, trying to avoid taking a pile
mixed with moldy donut. Be the player with either the most or none of
any donuts and you’re safe.

Prizes from Settlers Café

1st - King Me! ($29.90)
2nd - Saboteur ($24.90)
3rd - Phase 10 ($21.90)

Most Sportsmanship - Birds, Bugs & Beans ($24.90)

Lucky Draw
* Deluxe Package ($52.00)
* 3 x Standard Package ($35.00)

Date: 28 June 2009, Sunday
Time: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Venue: Settlers Cafe (Central) @ 39 North Canal Road, Singapore 059295
(Clarke Quay MRT Exit A)

Time: 12:00pm to 6:00pm (6 hours of gameplay!)

Venue: Settlers Cafe (Central) @ 39 North Canal Road, Singapore 059295 (Clarke Quay MRT Exit A)

Dress Code: Not that we know of

Any entrance fees?

Free for each parent accompanying a Mensan child aged 13 and below (Parents, please do not leave your children unsupervised)
Free for each current Mensa member and 1 guest.
More guests? - A fee of $5 applies for each additional guest

NOTE: Please bring your Mensa membership card for verification.

What can I expect?

Access to Settler’s staggering collection of over 100 board/card games.

From challenging strategy games for adults to simple party games for children.

Come join us today!