By Bill Wilson
Sometimes life in San Miguel de Allende is fun and games.
Have you played Rummikub? Although not new to San Miguel, Rummikub is currently one of the most popular games in the expat and local gaming community. It requires strategic thinking, planning and problem-solving skills, which can help keep the mind sharp and improve cognitive function. Plus handling the tiles and arranging them on the table can help improve dexterity and fine motor skills, which are important at all ages, and it’s engaging in a fun and entertaining way which can serve as a great stress reliever.
Just what is Rummikub? Simply, it’s like Scrabble but with numbers and no board. The fascinating story of the game began over 70 years ago. Ephraim Hertzano originally made his living selling toothbrushes and other plastic accessories. The game started as an idea that had occurred to Hertzano, living in Romania, when card-playing was outlawed under the Communists. Hertzano envisioned playing a game that would use small tiles instead of cards to play. He moved to Israel in the 1940’s after World War II, continuing the development on Rummikub in the backyard of his house in Bat Yam, and eventually became a professional game developer after publishing it to the market. In San Miguel, Silveyra's for Rummikub is the latest to host the popular game. There are several rummikub night/afternoons. Wednesdays at The Restaurant in Centro also has a game night. And impromptu games are often played at La Frontera and Quinta Loreto. And La Frontera, noted for its comfort food, is currently hosting the Unitarian’s game program as well as the famous “Gringo Bingo.” Check with restaurants for updates.
Local Girls Take Chess Prizes
San Miguel-based chess gals Lily and Renata Duarte are once again winners at chess. They competed in the XIV Children and Youth Chess Nationals which brought the strongest players from all over Mexico. Renata won first place for girls ten and under and Lily tied for first on points but placed second after tie breaking rules were applied. “They received excellent strong support from the San Miguel community,” explains Thomas David, the duos chess mentor. Last year the GoFundMe campaign met its $3,000 USD goal. Those funds allowed the girls to compete in the North American Youth Chess Championships held in Dulles, Virginia in December. This tournament brought together 356 of the strongest young players from Canada, the US and Mexico for a seven-day tournament.
Lily, 12 years old, played nine classic games, each of which lasted up to 4 1/2 hours. She won five, tied three and lost one when playing against 32 of the strongest 14 and under female players from the Northern Hemisphere.
He mother, Deb Duarte notes, “This was a fantastic result. She won third place and was awarded the title "Woman Candidate Master".” Renata, playing in the 10 and under category, also competed in the classic tournament and competed well but did not place.
A "Blitz" tournament with a basic time limit of three minutes per player was also part of this event. Renata won first place in the ten and under girls category in Blitz. Lily also tied for first in Blitz on points in 14 and under girls but was awarded third after the tie breaks were applied.
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