Malaysians won all three top prizes and the 5th prize. Lim Vee Loon was 1st runner up winning S$ 5,000 and Mohd. Hassin Farhan was 2nd runner up taking home S$ 2,500.

Amanda Kiong of Singapore was placed 4th and Tan Jia Hao of Malaysia was 5th. Gaurav Korde of India was placed 6th. The latter three received S$ 100 each.

62 participants from Singapore, India, Thailand, Philippines, Australia and Malaysia participated in a highly charged-up competition of 5 gruelling rounds. The best puzzlers from these countries were invited to vie for the coveted title.

After the 3rd round, which was an elimination round, 15 participants were selected to play in the 4th round. The top 5 from round 4 were invited to the stage for the Finals. The atmosphere was tense and electric as the participants battled their way to the Finals, leading and lagging through the first three rounds.

BRAND’S Sudoku Challenge, Singapore Open 2009

100 Finalists competed in the Singapore Open at the same venue, earlier in the day. They were the best of the 1000 who were shortlisted from the online competition held on the Stomp website in which about 100,000 Singaporeans participated. Congratulations to the winners, picture below.

Report of the event:

The champion, Charissa started slow and was the 13^th to qualify for round 4. In round 4 & 5 she found her composure and finished first, true to form, (reminiscent of her finish last year; alas, a mistake pushed her to 5^th place). Congratulations on your sweet victory this year.

Rachel Thian, Gaurav Korde, Sarah Jane Cua, Amanda Kiong and Lim Vee Loon were the most consistent, leading the field, in that order, into round 4. Amanda Kiong comfortably retained her 4^th ranking to finish 4^th in the finals.

Gaurav Korde and Lim Vee Loon were tied going into the finals; Vee Loon triumphed and finished as 1^st Runner Up. Congratulations on your steady route to success.

Mohd. Farhan Hassin started slow but caught up in round 2 & 3 and was ranked 8^th in round 4. Like Charissa, he finished well, as 2^nd Runner Up. Congratulations!

Tan Jia Hao was the dark horse among the participants and one of the youngest. From barely qualifying in position 15, he steadily moved through rounds 4 & 5 to finish 5^th. Well done!

Gaurav Korde, one of the top players from India, started very well, along with Sarah, Asian Sudoku Champion 2008, and Rachel, as the top 3, going into round 4. He performed the best of the three, getting a berth in the final five; but having lost the tie to Vee Loon, he was placed 6^th.

The competition format was innovative and challenging. The best of the best from the Asia Pacific meandered through the competition with their ups and downs and finally three with nerves of steel triumphed with three others close on their heels.

Thanks to BRANDs for making this the biggest annual Sudoku event in this region, and also for the Thailand International Open held earlier this year. Kudos to IMSG for a well managed event. We are happy to see the slow but steady growth in popularity of Sudoku in this region.

Arrival

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During

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Singapore Players

Last year we organised a team of 9 players who joined the three BRAND’S Malaysia champions to compete in the Sudoku Challenge 2008 in Singapore.

The Malaysians secured the 3rd, 5th and 6th positions, and we hope that we will do better this year. Peruse the information below, and those qualified, please send in your Eligibility Forms early to info@sudoku.com.my.

Invitation to compete in the BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open

BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open is back! For the second time, Sudoku experts from around the region are invited to put their skills to the test for a chance at the crowning glory of being BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open Champion and win over $100,000 in cash and prizes.

BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open will be held in Singapore, on August 23, and the top prizes of the challenge are:

1st prize winner – $10,000 cash prize, $300 BRAND?S^? Hamper, Trophy and Certificate

2nd prize winner – $5,000 cash prize, $300 BRAND?S^? Hamper, Trophy and Certificate

3rd prize winner – $2,500 cash prize, $300 BRAND?S^? Hamper, Trophy and Certificate

We would like to invite the members of your esteemed association to compete in BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open. To be eligible for the challenge, participants must reside in the Asia Pacific Region and have accomplished the following.

• Placed in the Top 3 in a national Sudoku competition of your country or be nominated by a national Sudoku or puzzle association to represent your country
• Have recognised expert ability to solve Sudoku puzzles, e.g. Participation in the Math Olympiad, MENSA member etc.
• A small registration fee of SG$10 applies to challengers who have qualified for BRAND?S? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open. This fee will only be collected after eligibility has been confirmed.

All applications must be received by June 3, 2009. The Organising Committee will review all applications and eligibility given on a rolling basis. All decisions made by the BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Organising Committee are final. Challengers will have to be physically present in Singapore for the Finals held on August 23, 2009. Challengers will also need to present a photo ID at the event as proof of identification.

For more information about the BRAND?S^? Sudoku Challenge 2009 Asia Pacific Open, please call +65 6473 8368 (Between the office hours of 9.30am and 5pm) or check out our website at http://www.stomp.com.sg/BRANDSSudokuChallenge09/

Note from Sudoku.com.my Sdn. Bhd.: Winners from various Malaysian Sudoku Championships and Challenges who meet the eligibility requirements, and prepared and able to participate in the Finals in Singapore on 23rd August 2009, are requested to download and complete the Eligibility Form and email as an attachment to info@sudoku.com.my before 25th May 2009.

Download Eligibility Form here