MSO @ The UK Games Expo

Mike and the team run several tournaments each year at the UK Games Expo.  The schedule of 2023 tournaments is available below (Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th June 2023).  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 join our next tournament!  The MSO Grand Prix 2023 will run from 27th January to 12th March with over 100 different tournaments to choose from.

UK Games Expo 2023 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 2nd June

Catan UK Championship Qualifier

Friday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The format of the Catan UK Championship is still to be confirmed, dates and time are subject to change.  We hope to have the details shortly so please check back with us soon!

Great Western Trail

Friday – 10.30am to 7.30pm

3 rounds of 4-player games with a VP auction to determine player order (this is simpler than it sounds, players bid how many points they want to “pay” to get the starting position they want).

Azul

Friday – 11.00am to 3.00pm

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)

Friday – 3.30pm to 7.30pm

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

Friday – 3.30pm to 8.30pm

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

Saturday 3rd June

Terraforming Mars

Saturday – 9.30am to 7.30pm.

3 rounds of 4-player games. We will use the standard ruleset (no expansions) however the Corporate Era rules will be included. We will also utilise the card drafting rules as described within the rulebook.

Catan UK Championship Quarter Finals

Saturday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The format of the Catan UK Championship is still to be confirmed, dates and time are subject to change.  We hope to have the details shortly so please check back with us soon!

Carcassonne UK Championship

Saturday – 11.00am to 6.00pm

The Carcassonne UK Championship brings together the best Carcassonne players in the country to fight for the UK crown and the right to represent the country in the next World Championship! All games are played 2-player.

The tournament will be played in two-phases:

Preliminary Phase – All players play 6 games in a swiss format. This means that each round you will play against an opponent on the same or a similar number of wins as yourself.

Playoffs Phase – Players who achieve 5 wins or more (draw = ½ win) will qualify for the playoffs. This is a single elimination bracket to determine our UK Champion.

More detailed tournament rules will be published in due course.

7 Wonders

Saturday – 3.30pm to 7.30pm

5 rounds of 4-player games. Players will be random assigned a wonder each round, but may choose which side of that wonder to play as.

Sunday 4th June

Wingspan

Sunday – 9.30am to 2.30pm

3 rounds of 3-player games (if we get >27 entries, the top 3 will play a 4th round to ensure we find a champion).

Catan UK Championship Semis & Grand Final

Sunday – 10.00am to 2.00pm

The format of the Catan UK Championship is still to be confirmed, dates and time are subject to change.  We hope to have the details shortly so please check back with us soon!

Puerto Rico

Sunday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

3 rounds of 4-player games. Games are played using the standard game, no expansions.

Ticket to Ride

Sunday- 10.30am to 3.30pm

4 rounds of 4-player games.  We will be playing on either the USA map.

UK Games Expo 2022 Results

Thank you to all of the players who participated in our tournaments over the UK Games Expo weekend for helping to make each and every tournament as smooth as they were.  We are now pleased to share with you the full results for each event.

Catan UK National Championship
Carcassonne UK Championship
Catan Open Qualifier
7 Wonders
Azul
Carcassonne (4 players)
Dominion
Great Western Trail
Stone Age
Terraforming Mars
Ticket to Ride
Wingspan

Previous Results

Full results from previous tournaments can be accessed below.

2021 UKGE
2020 UKGE – Played as part of the MSO, see full MSO results
2019 UKGE
2018 UKGE