MSIG Malaysia

MSIG Samurai Sudoku Showdown Malaysia’s search for the No.1 Sudoku player

12 Sep 2007 Press ReleasesAnnouncements
PETALING JAYA, 12 Sept 2007 - Calling all die-hard Malaysian Sudoku fans. If you think you have what it takes to become Malaysia’s No. 1 Sudoku player, we dare you to take part in the MSIG Samurai Sudoku Showdown.
 
MSIG, Malaysia’s second largest general insurance company, is organizing a three-month contest in major cities, to promote this healthy and refreshing puzzle game which has swept the world.
 
Up for grabs is RM80,000 worth of prizes, including cash money and travel packages for the MSIG Samurai Sudoku Showdown which will be held at Penang (Nov 11), Petaling Jaya (Nov 18), Malacca (Nov 25) and Johor Bahru (Dec 2), and the grand finals in Klang Valley (venue to be announced) next January.
 
MSIG Chief Executive Officer Mr Song Yam Lim said the general insurance company initiated the Sudoku contest to promote a healthy lifestyle among Malaysians from all walks of life.
 
“We are extremely thrilled with this opportunity of introducing the MSIG Samurai Sudoku Showdown to the Malaysian public. Sudoku is a great way for everyone to relax and exercise the brain and mind. It is fun, mind-boggling and helps to keep the mind agile which is just as important as keeping physically fit.
 
“We also hope more Malaysian youths would be encouraged to participate actively in this stimulating number solving puzzle. The beauty of Sudoku is that it encourages players to solve problems by using logic rather than using deep mathematical skills,” he added.
  
The competition is open to all Malaysians – Ichi Sudoku (25 years and above), Ni Sudoku (18 to 24 years) and San Sudoku (12 to 17 years). Participants can visit www.MSIGsudoku.com.my to register.
The top three finalists for each age category of the qualifying rounds in Penang, Petaling Jaya, Malacca and Johor will qualify for the grand finals in January 2008.
 
The prizes are as follow:
 
 Ichi Sudoku (25 years and above)
 
Grand Champion - RM5,000 plus Japan holiday package for two with MSIG Travel Insurance and MSIG Personal Accident Plan
1st Runner-Up - RM3,500 plus Hong Kong holiday package for two with MSIG Travel Insurance and MSIG Personal Accident Plan
2nd Runner-Up - RM2,000 plus Kota Kinabalu holiday package for two with MSIG Travel Insurance and MSIG Personal Accident Plan
 
Ni Sudoku (18 to 24 years)
Grand Champion - RM2,000 plus notebook PC and MSIG Student Personal Accident Plan
1st Runner-Up - RM1,500 plus handphone and MSIG Student Personal Accident Plan
2nd Runner-Up - RM1,000 plus iPOD Nano and MSIG Student Personal Accident Plan
   
San Sudoku (12 to 17 years)
 
Grand Champion - RM2,000 plus notebook PC and MSIG Student Personal Accident Plan
1st Runner-Up - RM1,500 plus handphone and MSIG Student Personal Accident Plan
2nd Runner-Up - RM1,000 plus iPOD Nano and MSIG Student Personal Accident Plan
 
The regional champions will each win RM1,500 while the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up will each pocket RM500 and RM300 respectively.
Sudoku is a logic-based number placement puzzle and the word Sudoku means single digits. The objective is to fill a 9 x9 grid so that each column, each row and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes contains the digits from 1 to 9. The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid. The general way to solve the problem is when you insert a new number it should be unique in that particular region (block) and also in that particular row and column.
 
The attraction of the puzzle is that the rules are simple, yet the line of reasoning required solving the puzzle may be complex. The level of difficulty can be selected to suit the audience. The puzzles are often available free from published sources and may be custom-made using software.
 
For more information and online registration, log on to http://www.msigsudoku.com.my/