Champion marble shooters from across the country will gather in the Wildwoods to compete in the 96th Annual National Marbles Tournament Monday, June 17 through Thursday, June 20 – all vying for the title of “King” and “Queen” of Marbles.
Players selected from local tournaments held in cities throughout the United States will unite in the Wildwoods for four days of serious marble competition and fun on the island’s award-winning beach and nationally recognized boardwalk. The “Mibsters” – male and female marble players ages 8-14 – will compete for national honors, college scholarships, as well as an array of other prizes and awards during the annual tournament.
More than 1,200 games of marbles will be played throughout the tournament at Ringer Stadium, located on the beach at Wildwood Avenue in Wildwood, NJ, with the top eight shooters advancing to the semi-finals competition. The top two male and top two female players will compete in a ‘Best of 15’ series for the championship. The victorious male and female champions will be crowned the “King” and “Queen” of Marbles. As the victors of the tournament, and as part of the tradition, the male winner will give a congratulatory kiss to the cheek of the winning female.
The marbles game in which competitors will participate is called ‘Ringer’. It is played by placing 13 marbles in the form of an “X” in a 10-foot circle, with players then alternating shots to knock marbles out of the ring. The winner is the individual who is first to shoot seven marbles out of the ring.
The 96th Annual National Marbles Tournament will take place from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. daily and is FREE for spectators.