World Cup for mind skills

Get ready to test your mental reflexes - or watch crackerjack thinkers test their skills. The first ever World Mind Sports Games (WMSG) is being held in Beijing from October 3 to 18. The competition, organized by the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA), has been nicknamed the "World Cup for Mental Skills".

More than 2,500 "mind sportsmen" from some 140 nations and regions are competing for 36 gold medals in five major games and 36 small events. Competition events include bridge, draughts (checkers), chess, go and xiangqi (Chinese chess). Up to 25 players can participate in each event. The overall winner will be the contestant who garners the largest sum of points.

Young players can join in team, pair and individual events. Jose Damiani, president of the federation, said he hopes that each of the federation's member nations will also send a junior team. To encourage participation, each young player will receive free food and lodging in Beijing, and airfare will be subsidized.