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 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.

Results

Click here for full results from our 2023 tournaments (uploaded as soon as they are available)

Friday 2nd June

Catan+ Challenge

Friday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

The CATAN+ Challenge is a 3-game event that showcases expansions and variants of traditional CATAN. There will be three games, scored using the CATAN tournament rules. The top player in this event will advance to the Championship tournament on Sunday. The games:

1) CATAN + The Helpers: The CATAN Helpers are your new best friends on the island of Catan! They generously share their specialized skills and expertise to help you develop your fledgling communities into thriving cities.

2) CATAN + Beach House Rules: You must place one of your initial settlements on the coast!

3) CATAN + Surprise!: You will find out the rules for this game at the event.

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).

Full Details

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).

Full Details

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.

Full Details

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.

Full Details

Saturday 3rd June

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.

Full Details

Catan UK Championship Open Qualifier

Saturday – 10.00am to 3.00pm

CATAN Studio is hosting an Open Qualifier for the CATAN United Kingdom National Championship Tournament at UKGE 2023. The Open Qualifier is expected to last until 3:00 pm. You must play in all three games and post on of the top scores in order to qualify for the Championship on Sunday.

CATAN UK Championship 2023 Information

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.

Full Details

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.

Full Details

Sunday 4th June

Catan UK Championship

Sunday – 10.00am to 2.00pm

To participate in the CATAN UK Championship you must qualify either through the Saturday Open Qualifier at UKGE, the CATAN+ Challenge on Friday at UKGE or via another official CATAN UK Championship qualifier tournament.

CATAN UK Championship 2023 Information