Lagos breaks world record, hosts 1,300 players in Monopoly tourney

Lagos State on Friday broke the world record of “Most People Playing Monopoly’’ with 1,300 students competing at a time at its “City of Lagos Monopoly’’, beating the former set in Singapore. The former record was set at the Universal Studio in Singapore where 605 people were gathered on March 19, 2016 under the same roof.

The organiser of the event, Bestman Games, proposed the competition to break the earlier world record. To set the record, Bestman Games partnered with the Lagos State Government to organise the iconic U-17 Monopoly event at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere. The competition witnessed an influx of students who gathered to ensure that the aim of breaking the record was achieved.

The Chief Executive Officer of Bestman Games, Mini Akinkugbe, told newsmen that the number of students had exceeded her expectations.

“What we have here is indescribable, we have witnessed a record set in Lagos and this will go down in the history of the sport. “We have exceeded our target but we do not want to deny anybody participation. “So, we have to accommodate everybody until there is no space to contain them,’’ she said.

Contributing, Catherine Bickersteth, Director, Strategic Educational Advisory Services Ltd., one of the co-sponsors of the event, said she expected to see the winner to participate in the World Championships.

“Firstly, the event is about mental awareness, not just the number, it’s about knowledge; we want people to learn a lot, especially have financial knowledge and critical thinking that will make them better.

“I am particularly elated by this record breaking event.

“One, they are starting young; a lot of young people in the hall today to understand the tool to be used not only to improve themselves but to solve problems. “By God’s grace, it will hold annually and we hope to increase the quality year by year. “The world championship is coming up and we hope to see the champion from here represent Nigeria,’’ Bickersteth said.

Another Director, Mrs Josephine Ani, said that the organisers intended to open up the game to other age groups in the future. “Opening the game up will allow other age groups to also have the idea and to impart knowledge to others about things around them and how they can manage themselves financially.

“Youths are the future of tomorrow and that is why we are starting from them and we can see the partnerships here,’’ she said. Lagos State on Friday broke the world record of “Most People Playing Monopoly’’ with 1,300 students competing at a time at its “City of Lagos Monopoly’’, beating the former set in Singapore.The prize money for the winner of the event is N500,000 with a slot in the next edition, while the second place gets N300,000 and third N200,000.

Dignitaries at the event include the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Odien Ajumogobia, Sen. Guy Murray Bruce, Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu and the Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Adewunmi Ogunsaya.

 

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