Monopoly World Champion Crowned in Toronto

Yutaka Okada defeated champions from Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary and Scotland in a three-hour final match to claim the title in a tournament hosted by Hasbro in Toronto. His final tally was $11,589.

According to a press release, Yutaka said his 10 years of Monopoly experience has helped his negotiation techniques in real life. His advice to aspiring Monopoly champions is "never give up until the game is over."

The final round was the culmination of hundreds of state and regional tournaments, preliminary rounds played by the 38 national champions (plus reigning world champion Christopher Woo of Hong Kong), and a lifetime of practice playing the Monopoly game. Competitors included an innkeeper, toy store manager, medical secretary, economist, students (middle, high, college), sound technician, supermarket employee and a journalist. They ranged in age from 11 to 53 and represented a total of 38 countries.

In recognition of the World Monopoly Game Championship being hosted in Toronto, Hasbro has issued a new Canadian Monopoly game board. This version of the game features well-known Canadian properties such as Yonge Street, Granville Street, rue St. Denis and Portage and Main. Tokens include Canadian icons such as a moose, canoe, sled and hockey player. And the Chance and Community Chest cards have been replaced by Federal and Provincial cards that offer a humorous take on the country's culture and traditions.

The World Monopoly Game Championship has been taking place since 1973 and has been held in numerous locations across the globe, including New York, Monte Carlo, Bermuda, London, Berlin, Palm Beach and Toronto. The competition now takes place every four years and is its eleventh year.

Since 1935, Monopoly has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide and Hasbro estimates that more than 500 million people have played the game. Monopoly is sold in 80 countries and is translated into 26 languages.

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