Nimble Thimble Crowned NZ’s Best Monopoly Player

Media Release

Nimble Thimble Crowned New Zealand’s Best Monopoly Player

Aucklander Geoff Christopher set to represent NZ at the Monopoly World Champs in Las Vegas

Geoff Christopher, aka The Nimble Thimble makes a winning move

20 April 2009 – The best Monopoly player in the country has been revealed after the National Monopoly Final at MOTAT in Auckland last Saturday 18 April. 25 year old Aucklander, Geoff Christopher, aka the Nimble Thimble, was crowned king of the board game when he battled three of the country’s finest players for the title of New Zealand Monopoly champion and the honour of representing New Zealand in the 13th World Monopoly Championships in Las Vegas in October.

Wellington Regional Winner Martin Weaver, aka Mustang Marty, came in a close second after a stunning third round performance while Wild Card entry, Steve Jelley, aka Old Kent, came in third. Riverton contestant and South Island regional winner, Marina Seagar, also known as the Purple Property Princess, took out fourth place.

A pool of sixty contestants battled it out in three regional finals earlier this year in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to make it to the championship round.

“The final was very competitive,” says Stephen Imm, brand manager for Monopoly. “the Nimble Thimble ruthlessly bankrupted all three players in the first round but then wound up suffering the same fate in the third round so it all came down to points in the end.”

“The contestants showed that it is not just a game of pure luck or chance with the winning players proving that they are great negotiators”, he adds.

The competitors played three one hour rounds each with the competition being based on a points system to judge the winner.

The introduction of a new speed dice to Monopoly has highlighted the strategy skills necessary to be the winner. The six sided dice includes numbers 1,2,3, a bus icon and two Mr Monopoly sides and is designed to advance the game quickly reducing the amount of time it takes to purchase all the properties on the board. Game times are frequently cut down to an hour when the dice is in play.

Steve Jelley won the wild card entry when he bought a Monopoly game from Whitcoulls. His name was drawn to compete in the finals. Steve placed fifth in the South Island regional final that took place in Christchurch in February this year.

Geoff Christopher has won an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for him and a friend, a seat in the tournament and the chance to compete for fantastic prizes including the overall World Champion title, a full Monopoly bank worth over $20,000 U.S dollars and a magnificent trophy.

Like the Olympics, the Monopoly World Championships take place every four years. Tokyo was the last host city where representatives from 36 countries rolled and negotiated their way round the board.

ENDS

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