Monopoly lands on Las Vegas Blvd.

October 26, 2009 by Bryant Nguyen and Renata Follmann 

Norway student takes home Monopoly World Championship crown

Contestants from around the world rolled the dice on their chances to be crowned the winner of this year’s Monopoly World Championships, Thursday at Caesar’s Palace.

The Monopoly World Championship was fast-paced and the participants were intensely devoted. Members of the crowd did not take their eyes off the big screen, worrying that they might miss a move.

The competitors, ranging from ages 18 to 67, qualifed by winning their respective national championships. Sixteen players came to Las Vegas for the semi-final round, where Mr. Monopoly opened the event, wishing good luck to all players.

The road to the world championships for those players was a long one.

“There was initially a screening process where there were multiple choice questions about the game and, if you pass that level, then they give an essay about Monopoly strategies,” said the U.S. represenative, Richard Marinaccio. “After you pass that level, they took you to an online Monopoly tournament and after winning the online tournament, you play for the U.S. championships in Washington, D.C. with 28 competitors.”

And it makes sense that so many people from across the globe would participate – Monopoly is the highest selling board game in the world, available in 106 countries and 40 languages.

One of the most exciting events in the tournament was when Marinaccio bankrupt twice in the preliminary rounds. He ranked 14th out of 16 early on, but still made it to the finals.

“After losing the first two games, I decided to change my strategy to become more aggressive and dictate play,” Marinaccio said. “I think I was able to do that all the way throughout and even the final game I thought I was able to make the trades I thought I needed to be in a position to win.”

Among the crowd were people waving national flags, snacking on food. Eliminated players even offered commentary, giving their own take on the action.

But the representative from New Zealand took it to another level, with an entourage of almost 10 guys wearing shirts saying “Supporting Crew.”

“New Zealand had this big crowd of people that all came with him. So that was very interesting to see all the support that they have for Monopoly coming from New Zealand,” Marinaccio said.

The four finalists were from Norway, the USA, New Zealand and Russia. During the finals, all the participants had microphones and cameras from ESPN shot their every move.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” Marinaccio said. “I never expected Monopoly to produce such an electric atmosphere. For me, being filmed by ESPN is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”

The final round came down to Norway and New Zealand. The deciding play of the tournament saw the first official use of the Speed Die. New Zealand landed on North Carolina Avenue, which had 2 houses, and was not able to pay the $1,600 in rent, resulting in Norway’s victory.

The final round lasted a mere 40 minutes and Bjorn Halvard Knappskog of Norway was crowned this year’s Monopoly World Champion.

Knappskog, a student from Olso, Norway, became the youngest player ever to win the tournament, at the age of 19.

“Unbelievable. I almost can’t believe it,” Knappskog said. “It was very surreal. It is impossible to describe the feeling. It is an experience of a lifetime.”

The prize for Norway’s best Monopoly player, and now the world’s, is $20,580 — the amount in the Monopoly “bank.”

“The first thing I am going to spend a little bit on is a helicopter ride for my brother, my brother’s girlfriend and my friend that lives in Las Vegas,” Knappskog said. “So we are going to take a helicopter ride and see Las Vegas by night. The rest, I am going to save.”

This tournament marks the 13th edition of Monopoly World Championships, which has been played in four-year intervals since 1973. Players from 41 countries participate in the classic version of the board game, which is based on the streets of Atlantic City, to determine the best in the world.