The second World Mind Sport Games (WMSG) opened on Friday, August 9 at the Lille Grand Palais in Lille, France. In 
all, about 2,000 players from five sports will compete in bridge, chess, draughts (checkers), go, and xiangqi (Chinese Chess). Go events started in full force on Monday, August 13. EuroGoTV and IGS-Pandanet are broadcasting daily games from the WMSG. In all, five gold medals will be awarded in the following go events: men’s and women’s singles and teams, pair, and youth. The first medals were awarded during Saturday’s Gala dinner to three long-time contributors to promoting mind games: Timothy Fok for xiangqi, Gianarrigo Rona for bridge, and Thomas Hsiang for go.
As previously reported (“Youthful” U.S. WMSG Team Announced 7/15 EJ), the U.S. is fielding a 21-player WMSG team, over half of whom are under 18.
Shavit Fragman, the EJ’s Special Correspondent in Israel, reports that Israel will be represented by Amir Fragman, a 19- year-old 5-dan from Rosh HAAyin and Reem Ben David, a 16-year-old 3-dan from Petach Tiqwa. Amir Fragman currently serves in the medical corps as a research assistant and is a member of the Israeli go team, which has been doing very well in tournaments this summer. Reem Ben David is in 11th grade at high school in Petach Tiqwa; this is his first international tournament.
