Monopoly World Championship

The 2004 Monopoly World Championship is taking place this weekend in Tokyo, Japan, and the field has been narrowed to four finalists. The championship showdown features Anthony Redmond, 36, from Dublin, Ireland; Bjorn Andenaes, 35, from Oslo, Norway; Antonio Zafra Fernandez, 36, from Madrid, Spain; and Bartlomiej Korczak, age not listed, from Poland.

"The expertise of the players was exemplary," said Phil Orbanes, chief judge and author of The Monopoly Companion, in a press release. "The four finalists have a strong command of the strategies that prior champions have used to their advantage. We expect them to engage in spirited competition tomorrow."

The tournament, held appropriately on one of the most valuable real estate properties in the world -- Tokyo's prestigious Roppongi Hills -- is the culmination of national Monopoly championships held in countries throughout the globe during 2003 and 2004.

The Monopoly World Championship was first held in Washington, D.C., in 1973. Since then, there have been 10 subsequent World Championships.

Hasbro has posted photos from the first day of the competition. Also available are the World Championship rules and a World Championship FAQ.