Mind game show

Let's switch from Match Game to brain games. The World Mind Games, a sort of low-rent Olympics of five different brain strains - go, chess, bridge, draughts (fancy checkers) and xiangqi (a very distant cousin of chess) - just wrapped up in China.

The event even had its own video channel on YouTube, where you could watch some of the more intellectually challenging game shows you'll ever see. Gotta admit it wasn't as much fun as Gene Rayburn and his merry band of half-drunk celebs. But I still watched a bit of the proceedings...even when I didn't have a clue what was going on, as in the xiangqi competition. What are those mysterious symbols on the pieces, anyway?

One of the go players was very easy on the eyes, and I couldn't resist a screenshot of her. Not sure how she finally did in the competition, but I hope she at least got a nice parting gift.

America's top-ranked chess player, Hikaru Nakamura, went home with nearly fifty grand in prize money plus his appearance fee. Okay, it's not Ken Jennings money, but Nakamura didn't have to come in first seventy-four straight times. In fact, he finished second three times but still took home some nice loot.