Competing in memory competitions is very exciting for me. Every year in March Tony Dottino hosts the USA Memory Championship in New York City. I first competed in this tournament in 2008 after returning from my deployment to Afghanistan (I was a reservist). I first won the tournament March 7, 2009 and set two national records in the process. I memorized a deck of cards in 1 minute and 27 seconds and a 167 digit number in 5 minutes, both were new national records. Scott Hagwood is considered to be the ‘New York Yankees’ of the memory sport in the USA. He won the event four consecutive years.
I am currently the two time national memory champion having won in 2009 and 2010. I currently hold the record for the fastest to memorize a deck of cards in the USA.
Below is a video of me memorizing a deck of cards at the World Memory Championship November 2009
Every year there is also a World Memory Championship that was first started by Tony Buzan. This event consists of ten different events. The ten events are:
- 1 hour to memorize a string of numbers
- 5 minutes to memorize a string of numbers
- 15 minutes to memorize names and face
- 5 minutes to memorize abstract images
- 15 minutes to memorize words
- 30 minutes to memorize binary numbers
- Spoken number – digits are spoken 1 every 1 second
- 1 hour to memorize decks of cards
- Speed cards – each contestant memorizes a deck of cards as fast as possible
- 15 minutes to memorize fictional historic dates
Video of the spoken numbers event below. How many can you memorize?
At the World Championship I memorized a 630 digit binary number in 30 minutes and an 800 digit number in 1 hour. I also beat my personal best and memorized a 169 digit number in 5 minutes. Ben Pridmore won the 2009 World Memory Championship and has been a dominating force in the sport for the last several years. Dominic O’Brien, however, is an 8 time World Memory Champion and an icon in the sport.
Below is a video of me discussing these events at the World Memory Championship 2009
2010 USA Memory Championship the final round. I WON! As the video starts Nelson Dellis is eliminated and then it is between Ram Kolli and me.
The above photo is the 2010 USA Memory Championship as I memorized 100 names and faces in 15 minutes
Join the USA Memory Championship FAN PAGE http://www.facebook.com/pages/USA-Memory-Championship/383572997323?ref=ts
2010 USA Memory Champinship – Clearing mind and focusing for event…….
For links and information on getting involved and competing in the great sport visit: