| Marble game -- is it only a game for kids or regular | | | | The second World Marbles Championship will take |
| sport branch? Most people remember this game from | | | | place in Prague too, in 22 - 23 July 2006. In fact, the |
| their young years. But today there are many | | | | participants can come sooner and enjoy the beauties |
| prestigious marble tournaments around the world | | | | of Prague and its neighbourhood. The sportground at |
| every year. In this article I will take a look at some | | | | Strelecky Ostrov is available 24/7 for training and on |
| facts about marble tournaments and show you how | | | | Friday evening, 21 July, there will official training take |
| can you represent your country in these very | | | | place. |
| popular events. Please keep in mind that even | | | | On Saturday, 22 July, there will be opening ceremony |
| thought I will speak about international tournaments, | | | | and the championship will start by matches in groups. |
| you are welcome to participate! | | | | On Sunday it will continue by double elimination |
| Marble tournaments are most popular in Europe | | | | system. This day will be most important for all |
| (Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, United | | | | players because one of them will become of the |
| Kingdom, Slovak Republic) and America (United | | | | world champion! |
| States, Canada, Brazil). If you look around you will | | | | But World Marbles Championship is not only strong |
| find various rules of marble game. In the Europe | | | | competition. There is enough time to discover some |
| most countries prefer hole game (players shoot | | | | of hundreds sightseeings, go shopping or go to the |
| marbles to the hole), in America and United Kingdom | | | | pub with players from another countries. Because the |
| the game called Ringer is more popular (the object of | | | | organizers signed up a contract with quality |
| the game is to shoot small marbles in the ring out of | | | | accommodation facility, marble players can stay as |
| the ring by shooter, a bigger marble). Some countries | | | | long as they want and pay only 8 - 16 EUR per night. |
| play both, hole game and Ringer (e. g. Deutsches | | | | As I said, even thought you are not professional |
| Murmelrat - the German marble federation - has four | | | | marble player, you are welcome to come to Prague |
| different games). | | | | and participate! There are many countries where are |
| Many marble tournaments are held in the Czech | | | | marbles played by children but nobody organize the |
| Republic. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 the Czech Marble | | | | tournaments. Now you have tho opportunity to |
| Federation organised international tournament called | | | | change it - come to represent your country and play |
| Czech Open. | | | | with participants from another countries. For more |
| One year later, in 23 - 24 July 2005, the first World | | | | information about World Marbles Championship and |
| Marbles Championship in individual hole game took | | | | marble game rules visit official website of the Czech |
| place in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. It | | | | Marble Federation at . |
| was played on Strelecky Ostrov, the island in the | | | | --- Petr Sejba is president of the Czech Marble |
| Prague center. After 2 days of serious matches was | | | | Federation which organise World Marbles |
| known the world champion -- Svatoslav Sterba from | | | | Championship. He is owner of Marble Host, a web |
| the Czech Republic. | | | | hosting company. |