Las Vegas Weekly

October 19, 2009 · 7:24 AM

Large Monopoly board outside Bally’s kicks off inaugural championships

By Robin Leach

Monopoly.

Photo: Hasbro

Fifty finalists will compete in the qualifying first round today at the start of the Monopoly World Championships. Go cheer them on outside Bally’s this morning because they will play on one of the largest Monopoly boards ever constructed, and all the tokens -- even the hat, the dog and the shoe -- will be represented by humans!

Five of the players will advance to compete for a $50,000 top prize, while the remaining 45 each receive cash prizes, with a minimum of $500. Then tomorrow, the final players compete over two days at the Forum Ballroom in Caesars Palace.

This is the first time in 14 years that the event has been held on the Strip and in the United States. A tip to you Monopoly fans: Be among the first 600 spectators each day at Caesars, and you’ll receive a free souvenir Monopoly T-shirt.

These are the best funny real-estate negotiator players in the world, yet only one will be crowned world champion on Wednesday after two days of qualifying rounds, semifinals and then the ultimate showdown itself.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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