The first 'Real-time' technological revolution in history.

For the first time in the 34-year history of the World Memory Championship (WMC), a technological revolution called "Real-time" has been officially implemented, and Vietnam is the pioneering country to create this milestone.

On the morning of December 12th in Ho Chi Minh City, the 34th World Memory Championship (WMC 2025) officially opened. The event is jointly organized by the World Records Alliance (WorldKings), the Vietnam Memory Organization, and the Tam Tri Luc Education Group, under the strict supervision of the International Arbitration Council (GOMSA), with media sponsorship from Thanh Nien Newspaper and Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV).

The referees of the Super Memory Championship take the oath.

Photo: TRINH MINH TRIET

Nearly 300 athletes from 24 countries and territories gathered in Vietnam to compete in this intellectual challenge. This year's competition features the strongest lineups from "memory superpowers" such as the UK, Germany, the USA, Japan, China, and Mongolia…

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Thang Van Phuc, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Record Holders Association and Head of the Organizing Committee of the competition, expressed: "I am deeply moved and honored to witness an international-level competition being held in our country. This is not only a place for competition, but also a place to inspire the spirit of learning, creativity, and the exploration of human intellectual potential in the new era."

WMC 2025 brings together nearly 300 super memory contestants from around the world.

Photo: TRINH MINH TRIET

The atmosphere at the ceremony became somber as record holder Nguyen Phung Phong, Vice President of the World Council of Intellectual Sports , and Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the competition, stepped onto the stage to share his thoughts about his two mentors: the late Professor Tony Buzan – the father of Super Memory and Mind Mapping – and the late General Secretary of the Vietnam Record Organization, Le Tran Truong An. "Many people have told me to put Mr. Truong An's chair at the front, but during his lifetime, he always preferred to sit in the back row to quietly support others so they could shine in the front row. And at future competitions, the two empty chairs of those two mentors will forever remain in such a prominent position," Mr. Nguyen Phung Phong said emotionally.

THE ARENA OF "MEMORY MACHINES"

According to the organizers, at WMC 2025, contestants will showcase abilities far beyond the limits of the average person: memorizing thousands of numbers in minutes, recreating abstract images with absolute accuracy, or storing audio information at high speed in the blink of an eye. Ten competition events are designed to test processing speed, concentration, and brain endurance at the extreme.

Mr. Nguyen Phung Phong shared this at the opening ceremony.

Photo: TRINH MINH TRIET

This year's Vietnamese Super Memory team features many talented young individuals who have received thorough training in thinking skills, discipline, and a spirit of integration. Experts predict that Vietnam could set 2-3 new world records in its strong categories such as: Image memorization, Rapid numbering, and Word recognition.

The most impressive highlight of WMC 2025 is its comprehensive technological innovation. "For the first time, the entire process from question setting - submission - scoring - ranking updates will be 100% digitized. Every score change will be displayed every second. Audiences in Vietnam, judges in England, and the media in the US can all follow the same rhythm, the same moment," emphasized Mr. Nguyen Phung Phong. WMC President Raymond Keene also expressed his admiration: "This is a true revolution in the 34 years of the competition."

Besides technology, this year's tournament also unveiled the perpetual trophy, crafted from gold, platinum, crystal, and diamonds by Vietnamese artisans. "We want this artifact to become a legacy, a 'jewel' of the global intellectual community, preserved for generations to come," a representative of the organizing committee shared.

WMC 2025 not only marks a milestone for Vietnam in hosting a prestigious tournament, but also affirms the position of a nation confidently making its mark on the world's intellectual power map.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuoc-cach-manh-cong-nghe-real-time-lan-dau-tien-trong-lich-su-185251212224727061.htm