A British sports writer has shared the unexpected journey that saw him and his friends represent Great Britain at the Mölkky World Championships in Japan, all sparked by a casual WhatsApp message. The Finnish game, a strategic blend of skittles and mathematics, offered an unlikely path to international sporting competition for the group, who were all in their fifties.
The story began in December 2023 when the writer received a video clip from his son, who was backpacking in Australia. The footage showed his son and a friend playing an unfamiliar game with wooden skittles, accompanied by the message: “It’s called Mölkky. It’s Finnish. Think you should try it.” This intrigued the writer, a seasoned sports journalist, who realised he had stumbled upon a sport he had never encountered before.
The discovery resonated with a conversation the writer had five years prior with two friends in a Leeds pub. As they approached their 50th birthdays, they had pondered whether any international sporting avenues remained open to them, given age and other commitments. Their search for a sport that didn't demand elite fitness or strength had previously proved fruitless, but Mölkky appeared to be the answer they had been seeking.
The game, described as curiously addictive and a mathematical puzzle, appealed to the trio's competitive spirit. They quickly embraced Mölkky, which involves throwing a wooden 'mölkky' at numbered pins, requiring both accuracy and strategic thinking. Despite its niche status in the UK, they found a Cambridge Open tournament and entered as a collective representing Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, where their friendship originated. They found the Mölkky community to be welcoming, and despite their age, they felt competitive.
Their appetite for the sport grew, culminating in the exciting discovery that the Mölkky World Championships would be held in Japan for the first time that year. After an intensive eight months of practice and recruiting a fourth team member, Bill, the group found themselves in Hakodate, proudly competing for Great Britain. The experience, though in an ultra-niche sport, was described as invigorating and thrilling, fulfilling a long-held ambition to represent their country.