Othello® Bulletin # 353
April 2025

A message from WOF President

Welcome everybody to the first of the new generation of Othello News. Whether we are players, tournament organisers, teachers or reporters, we all share a desire for Othello to be more broadly known and more played at every level. The intention of this newsletter is to keep everybody up to date with the work that the World Othello Federation is doing.

BUT!!!! It doesn't stop there!

We want to hear from you about information, activities and ideas that will also help or encourage the Othello community more generally. In this editorial for each issue, I will focus on what we have been doing at the WOF.
In recent weeks, we have been planning a strategy for being more open and engaging (for which this newsletter is one example) and also working on finalising the plans for the World Othello Championships 2025. This is always more work than it might seem but we can now confirm that the highlight of the Othello calendar will be held on 12th-15th November in Ankara, Turkey. This will coincide with and be hosted by the Mind Summit which will give many of us lots of opportunities to engage with a wide variety of other games and represent Othello to the broader mind sports arena. You can see some of the fun of a previous event here: https://youtu.be/JE5uWFvWG2I?feature=shared

So, until next time, happy Othelloing. Guy

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WOC 2025: Ankara, Türkiye, 12-15 November 2025

The 2025 World Othello Championship (WOC) will take place in Ankara, Türkiye, from November 12-15.
Hosted by the Mind Sports & Games Confederation - Othello (Türkiye) and the Mind Summit.
The event will feature the individual, women’s, youth, and team championships.

WOC 2025 registration opens June 1st, with federations expected to confirm teams by July 31.
The woc2025.worldothello.org will be online by the end of May. 

WOF Tournament Committee is working on updating and improving the World Othello Championships regulations.

If there are questions about WOC 2025, contact the WOC 2025 TD-team, woc2025@worldothello.org.
WOC 2025 Information Whatsapp chat starts May 10th. Link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CktKviefkUvIUkXq4ZwdL2
Don't hesitate to contact us.

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Annual Meeting 2025

The WOF Annual Meeting was held virtually on March 15, 2025. Guy Plowman will continue his role as WOF President for the next two years. 
The annual meeting granted Benkt Steentoft as Secretary and Tom Schotte as Treasurer, Pieter Tomas (Africa), Erdenebaatar Genden (Asia), Matthias Berg (Europe), Vacant (North America), Fürqan Khan (West Asia) and Moises Correia Jr (South America) as council members in the World Othello Federation Council for the next two years.
Mark Dufour as Auditor, and, Tor Birger Skogen as chairman for the WOF Election committee for the next two years.
We give a warm thank you to everyone who worked hard for Othello the last few years! Now we are looking forward to great years with a lot of positive Othello!
Link to WOF Council information.

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Confederation Championships 2025 News

The European Othello Championship (EOC) is set for May 31st to June 1st in Prague,
Czech Republic. We are expecting over 80 players to participate. Url: eoc.worldothello.org

The Asian & Pacific Othello Championship (APOC), is scheduled for July 26th - 27th in
Hangzhou, China and we are expecting over 100 players to participate. Url: apoc.worldothello.org

APOC and EOC have 10 different level categories. The winners of these categories will
meet in a special Confederation Champions final weekend, streamed live on the WOF
Youtube channel in September.

WOF Tournament Committee works with AOC, WAOC, SAOC and NAOC to decide when, how and where their Confederations Championships will be held. 
The WOF Tournament Committee is working on updating and improving the Confederations Championships regulations.
Read more at WOF World Championships Series.

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Confederations news

The WOF council is planning to have Zoom meetings with all Confederations in the month of April and May. The first two meetings were with APOCF and EOCF.

The European Confederation has a new board of directors. The new chairman is Matthias Berg. The new board members are Paolo Scognamiglio, David Hand, Marc Tastet and Elisabetta Vecchi. The EOCF board organized themselves and started contacting federations to get to know the EOCF members, and start working together.

The Asia & Pacific Confederation has got a new chairman. Erdenebaatar Genden from Mongolia. We also welcome Kang Le, Takeshi Murakami and Piamrat Kraikokit to the APOCF council. The APOCF council has begun contacting all APOCF members. Verify if you have received an email from them.

Deadline for Confederations boards to add informations to Othello Bulletin #354 is May 25th!

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WOF YOUTH Committee news

The WOF Youth Committee (YC) currently consists of members Leonid Shifman, Evans Fritsch, Moises Correia, Jens Aagaard-Hansen, Erdenebaatar Genden and Jan C. de Graaf - Blijleven. When the YC gathers, our general process is:
- A member brings up a certain topic (on behalf of anyone)
- The topic is discussed either by group-email or we try to have one or more online meetings
- When the topic has been discussed thoroughly, the step towards a proposal can be initiated
  - all members may make their own proposal.
  - all members repeatedly get the chance the react upon proposals
  - al members may repeatedly refine their proposals
  - when done, all members should put all proposals in order; this is their vote
  - by the method of ‘Instant-Runoff Voting’ the final proposal is determined.

Over the past year+ the Youth Committee has discussed two major topics.

1) Youth age. This was a lengthy and informative discussion. Many slightly different thought and ideas surfaced. In the end the (binding) proposal to the WOF/WOC group was that federations can send two ‘youth’ players. One aged 17 or less on the 31st of December of the WOC year and the other aged 14 or less on the 31st of December of the WOC year.

2) Youth (semi)finals. The Youth Committee has given the WOF/WOC group a proposal to never cancel the Youth (semi)finals. Youth players qualifying for the overall-top-4 will have to play the overall-top-4 (semi)finals. The emptied spots will be taken by the 5th (and further) youth players. If accepted, detailed rules will be incorporated into the WOC Rules.

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News from our cooperation partners

This part of the Othello Bulletin is for our cooperation partners where they can inform the Othello community what is happening in the business part of the Othello world!  Send us your information to bulletin@worldothello.org before the 25th of each month, and it will be included in the next issue of the Othello Bulletin!

The company Ravensburger, who trademarked Reversi 1893, has start sell Othello in several European countries this year. Poland, Hungary and Romania. Othello was joining the "Łódź You Play" event. Marek Szalankiewicz from Poland Othello was here to show Othello.  

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TIPS FROM THE COACH:
Othello Players – A Hidden Asset for Retailers and Distributors!

Dear Othello Licensees, and all Companies Selling Othello!

Did you know that the World Othello Federation (WOF) has a network of passionate players and clubs in over 80 countries – all eager to help promote Othello?
If you’re a retailer, distributor, or brand holder planning to showcase Othello at a toy fair, store event, library day, or convention – we’re here for you! Our members are experienced in teaching and demonstrating Othello. They bring knowledge, energy, and joy to every event. And best of all – they want to help. For them, Othello is a hobby and a passion.

Why Work With WOF Members?

⚪ Experienced volunteers for live game demos
⚫ Local clubs ready to assist in your country
⚪ Positive and professional promotion of Othello
⚫ Increased visibility at public events
⚪ Authentic engagement with new audiences

Where Can We Help?
⚫ Game and toy fairs 
⚪ In-store events and demos 
⚫ Libraries and schools 
⚪ Public exhibitions 
⚫ Family days and community events 
⚪ Online campaigns and livestreams

Let’s Collaborate!

WOF encourages companies to make use of our amazing player community. It's a great way to increase visibility, build trust, and grow the Othello brand worldwide — together!

Want support at your next event?
Contact us: secretary@worldothello.org, +46 720 16 52 22
More info: www.worldothello.org

Let’s make Othello visible – with the help of those who love the game!

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WOF Media and news

We strongly encourage all federations to utilize the News-add function on worldothello.org! Share updates with the global Othello community by submitting short reports about your latest tournaments, conducting interviews with standout players, analyzing exciting games, or writing debate articles on Othello-related topics. The more news you contribute, the more visible we become! This increased activity will showcase to media, press, sponsors, and players who haven’t yet connected with local federations and clubs that a vibrant, worldwide Othello community exists.

Looking for inspiration? Check out our interview with Jonathan Cerf here! ​​​You find it here!

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Flip the disc - WOF official pairing system!

The World Othello Federation has together with Flip the Disc, Dmitri Atamanof, made the official Othello pairings system online! Flipthedisc is easy to use for everyone. WOF members can use it for official tournaments who easily then be rated in WOF Ratings. Schools, clubs and players can use the system and create local tourneys, online tourneys or friendly "for fun tourneys". 
WOF recommend Flipthedisc to all! It is easy to use. Easy to add players. Easy to register new players. Easy to send out information to people, press & media who wish to follow the tourneys. Easy to add livegames. And it is also possible to connect the livegames at Flipthedisc to Liveothello.com!  
Are your country interested to use it? 
Contact Dmitry Atamanov at support@flipthedisc.com for more information.

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Calender WOF Tournaments

• European Othello Championship, Prague, Czech Republic, 31st May - June 1st - eoc.worldothello.org

• Asia Pacific Othello Championship, Hangzhou, China, July 25th - 27th - apoc.worldothello.org

• World Othello Championship, Ankara, Türkiy, November 12th - 15th - woc2025.worldothello.org (online end of May)

• National Championships, Open tourneys and events, see the WOF Tournament Calender worldothello.org/calendar

• Add your tourneys here! https://www.worldothello.org/calendar/add

Contact Information - Bulletin Deadlines

• World Othello Federation (WOF): Email: office@worldothello.org | Website: www.worldothello.org | Phone/whatsapp/line/Telegram and others: +46-720165222

• Bulletin Editor: WOF Office Benkt Steentoft | Email: bulletin@worldothello.org

• Subscription Queries: bulletin@worldothello.org

• Next Othello Bulletin Deadline: May 25th
  WOF councils, committees, sponsors, licens companies: please send your information to us latest the 25th each month. 
  Send text and pictures to bulletin@worldothello.org or contact WOF Office at +46-720165222.