UK Games Expo – Mind Sports Olympiad

MSO @ The UK Games Expo

Mike and the team run several tournaments each year at the UK Games Expo. The schedule of 2022 tournaments is available below (Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th June 2022). Details of each tournament will be added here in due course.

For any queries regarding any of these tournaments please contact Mike Dixon at mikedixonmso@gmail.com.

If you enjoy these tournaments then you’ll probably also enjoy the Mind Sports Olympiad. The MSO run tournaments both online and at our annual event in London each August, so why not check out the next MSO schedule and join us!

UK Games Expo 2022 Tournaments

All of our tournaments are ran using inclusive formats that keep all players involved through the majority of the tournament. In later rounds players will be matched with others of a similar ability so even if you’re just a beginner we’ll do our best to get you a match at your ability level. Players are welcome to ask an umpire to withdraw prior to the start of any round and we will remove your name from subsequent draws so that you may enjoy the rest of the show.

Finish times given below are our best approximation. Games can take varying amounts of time so some may finish earlier or later than advertised.

More information, particularly about the UK Championship tournaments, will be published closer to the event.

How to Enter

To enter please buy your tickets via the UK Games Expo website. Please remember that you will need to purchase a ticket to the UK Games Expo itself as well as for any tournaments that you wish to enter.

Friday 3rd June

Catan UK Championship Qualifier

Friday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

This is your last chance to qualify for the Catan UK Championship which will take place from Saturday 4th to Sunday 5th June at the UK Games Expo. The qualifier will be played across 3 rounds following which the top* players will advance to the UK Championship itself.

*We anticipate that approximately 8 players will progress. There are significantly more qualifiers this year than in previous seasons which means less places available from the UKGE open qualifier.

Full details of other qualifiers and the tournament rules can be found at the CATAN Studio website.

Ticket to Ride

Friday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The tournament will consist of 4 rounds of 4-player games. We will be playing on either the USA or Europe map (which it is will be confirmed at a later date).

Great Western Trail

Friday – 10.30am to 8.00pm

All players will be entitled to play 2 games, after which the top 4 will contest the Grand Final. Games are played 4-player using the base edition of the game.

7 Wonders

Friday – 3.30pm to 7.30pm

The tournament will consist of 5 rounds of 4-player games.

Saturday 4th June

Catan UK Championship Quarter Finals

Saturday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The Catan UK Championship will pit 32 of the best Catan players in the country against one another for the title of UK Champion and a place in the World Championships! The tournament begins on Saturday with a 3-round competition to determine which 16 players will advance to the Semi Finals on Sunday.

If you’d like to participate you must qualify through an official qualifier tournament. There are several tournaments scheduled around the country including a last chance qualifier at the UKGE on Friday.

Full details of other qualifiers and the tournament rules can be found at the CATAN Studio website.

Terraforming Mars

Saturday – 10.00am to 8.00pm.

All players will be entitled to play 2 games, after which the top 4 will contest the Grand Final. Games are played 4-player using the standard set without expansions. The Corporate Era rules are in effect and we shall use the drafting variant as described in the rule book.

Azul

Saturday – 10.30am to 2.30pm

The tournament will consist of 6 rounds of 2-player games, using the coloured side of the player boards (as in the standard rules).

Carcassonne (4p)

Saturday – 3.30pm to 8.30pm

A more casual option for those who don’t fancy the glory of the Carcassonne UK Championship (or those who can’t get enough Carcassonne!). The tournament will consist of 4 rounds of 4-player games. We will use the base game tiles, the river and abbot are removed.

Dominion

Saturday – 4.00pm to 8.30pm

The tournament will consist of 5 rounds of 3-player games. We shall play using the base game, second edition.

Sunday 5th June

Carcassonne UK Championship

Sunday – 9.30am to 4.00pm

The winner of the Carcassonne UK Championship will earn the right to represent the UK as our champion at the next World Championships.

The UK Championship is played using the base game tile, the abbot meeple and river tiles are not used. Each match will be played 2-player.

Further details of the precise format & tournament rules will be provided at a later date.

Catan UK Championship Semis & Grand Final

Sunday – 10.00am to 2.00pm

16 players will have earned a spot in the Semi Finals following Saturdays play to take part in the 2 round single elimination conclusion to the CATAN UK Championships.

Semi-Finals will begin at 10.00am (16 players split over 4 boards). The winners of these games will advance to the Grand Final.

The Grand Final will begin at 12.30pm. Spectators are welcome (but are reminded not to interact with the players whilst they are playing).

The winner of the Catan UK Championship will earn the right to represent the UK as our champion at the next European Championships and World Championships.

Full tournament rules can be found at the CATAN Studio Website.

Stone Age

Sunday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The tournament will consist of 3 rounds of 4-player games, played using the standard edition of the game (no expansions.

Wingspan

Sunday – 10.30am to 3.00pm

New for 2022 we are holding a Wingspan tournament. Wingspan was released in 2019 and has gained immediate popularity. Players battle to attract the best birds to their network, each bringing it’s own benefits.

The tournament will consist of 4 rounds of 3-player games.