Largest card tournament
5-6 September 2008, Móstoles, Madrid
Largest card game tournament
In Móstoles, September is the fiestas season and what better way to kick-off the 2008 festivities than with a Guinness World Record. Mostoles City Hall organised a Mus championship in an attempt to break the record for the largest card game tournament set by 330 UNO® players in Charleston, United States, on 21 November 2006.
Mus is a card game played in pairs and its popularity has spread from the North of Spain all across the country. This was evidenced by the long queues outside the Plaza de Toros in Móstoles where 90% of the pre-registered pairs turned up to be a part of this record attempt. Those who didn’t appear were replaced by a lucky few reserves hoping to win the first prize, a Caribbean holiday. The 512 pairs began playing at 21.30 on an unseasonably cold evening. By midnight half of the competitors had been eliminated as the first round of the tournament ended. The mayor of Móstoles, a renowned Mus player who often partners Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas in tournaments, was knocked out in the fourth round just before dawn. The final began at midday on 6 September 2008, the final two pairs conquering both tiredness and wily opposition to face off under the gaze of local supporters and TV cameras. The two young challengers, Raúl Moreno Horcajuelo and Javier Cuesta Muñoz, just 21 and 22 years old eventually lost out to their more experienced opponents, local residents Enrique Martínez Espinosa and Francisco Javier López Martínez.
With the tournament over, the prize giving ceremony began. Arguably the most coveted prize was saved until last. Guinness World Record adjudicator Ralph Hannah presented the certificate for the largest card game tournament to Mayor Esteban Parro de Prado who accepted it on behalf of all the city’s residents. Now Móstoles has her first record, there are sure to be many more to follow.
15 September 2008