Simon Says...We Have a Winner! Joel Berger Sets Guinness World Record as Best Simon2 Player at...

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EAST LONGMEADOW, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 2003

Pop Culture Icon Donny Osmond Leads the Celebration at Hasbro Games

Today, Joel Berger, age 14, of Leawood, Kansas, was crowned "World's Best Simon2 Player" and set a Guinness World Record during the SIMON 25th Anniversary Championship Playoff at Hasbro Games in East Longmeadow, Mass. With today's win, Joel will go down in Guinness World Record history for playing the longest game of SIMON ever recorded - 14 SIMON sequences.

After being declared the winner, Berger said, "This was a cool experience and a lot of fun. I am really happy I won the Championship and I have the Guinness World Record for SIMON2."

Joel was one of four players from around the country to win a trip to the SIMON Playoffs. The four top players were chosen among thousands of hopefuls who tried their hand at Simon at local KB Toy store competitions nationwide in October. Mitchell Myler of Puyallup, Washington, was runner up at the event; Eleanor Toscano of Benicia, California, came in third; and Ashley Fields of North Brentwood, Maryland, took fourth place.

"I've hosted many events throughout my career, but this one was particularly fun and exciting, especially since it's the 25th anniversary of SIMON!" explained event host Donny Osmond. "I'm a big fan of SIMON and know how challenging the game can be. To see 14-year old Joel finish 14 sequences under this kind of a spotlight was impressive."

"SIMON has been a staple of electronic gaming since the advent of the category in the 1970s," said Mark Stark, vice president of marketing, Hasbro Games. "People have had the opportunity to play the game for 25 years, but never have they had the chance to show off their skill and dedication like this. We saw hundreds of unbelievable players throughout our nationwide search, but these four players were the cream of the crop. Joel's first place finish was certainly something for the record books!"