Over 500 enthusiasts to gather as Asia board game meet returns to S’pore in July for second year

SINGAPORE – More than 500 board game enthusiasts will gather in July for a regional meet that is expected to pave the way for Singapore to host more unique events that can pull in the tourist dollars.

The Asia leg of the World Series of Board Gaming (WSBG) will run for three days and attract more than 160 competitors and a few hundred spectators from all over the world, including Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Europe and the United States.

It will be held at the Pico Creative Centre from July 11 to July 13.

The competition is getting funding and support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), as part of efforts to help event organisers who want to bring in innovative events with strong tourism potential.

An STB spokesperson, in response to queries, on June 25 said: “WSBG Asia sits within our vibrant leisure events calendar, reinforcing Singapore as the premier destination for unique, best-in-the-region experiences.”

STB declined to provide details on how much money is being pumped into the event, citing business confidentiality.

The competition is the Asia leg of the WSBG tournament held annually in Las Vegas. This is the second year running that it is being held in Singapore, with nearly five times the turnout last year.

More than 200 board games will be showcased, including 16 games that will be played competitively.

The competitive games are: 7 Wonders, Acquire, Ark Nova, Azul, Brass: Birmingham, Cascadia, Dune: Imperium – Uprising, Earth, Lost Ruins Of Arnak, SETI, Splendor, Terraforming Mars, The Castles Of Burgundy, The White Castle, Ticket To Ride, and Wingspan.

Finalists will secure a spot in the global finals of the Las Vegas event, scheduled to take place from Sept 5 to Sept 9. Those ranked in the top four will also receive up to $1,000 in flight subsidies to Las Vegas.

The window to sign up for the tournaments has closed but tickets to attend the event can be found on online travel platform Klook, with prices starting at $5.

In 2025, the inaugural Asia leg of the competition in Singapore was organised by a Singapore-based company called Joker Game.

Joker Game co-founder Ivan Chen, speaking to The Straits Times, said: “The 2025 edition showed us that there is real demand in Singapore and the region for competitive board gaming.

“For 2026, we are building on that by making the event larger, more accessible and more complete.”

He added that he hopes to make WSBG Asia an annual event that will help position Singapore as the game capital of Asia by 2030.

WSBG Asia will feature a carnival ground with attractions like board game workshops, a social gaming corner and a scavenger hunt.

Enthusiasts will also be able to see TV personality Huoshu, professional e-sports player Xiao Cang, and Tinno, a contestant on South Korean reality game show The Devil’s Plan.

A two-hour special match featuring the guests will also take place inside a capsule on the Singapore Flyer, with access exclusive to those with VIP passes.

Klook and the Singapore Flyer are among the 20 sponsors and partners of the event.

Singaporean Vincent Gan, 45, who attended the competition in 2025, said he will be testing his wits in the strategy games Cascadia and Splendor in 2026.

Gan, an executive senior director at a local financial advisory firm, began playing board games competitively in 2005. He decided to join the 2026 tournament to “enjoy the competition and camaraderie with other players, and to inspire my children to play”.

He said: “I love that it seems bigger and has more fringe events this year. My children will be here to support me, and I hope they will compete maybe next year.” 

Lawyer Srimoyee Biswas, 33, said she will be flying in from Germany with her husband to attend the event.

“My husband and I love playing board games and this is our common hobby that unites us,” said Biswas, adding that the satellite event will be good practice for them when they join the main tournament in Vegas.