Mind sports games held in east China

NANJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The second Mind Sports Games of Jiangsu commenced on Wednesday in Zhenjiang, a city in eastern China's Jiangsu Province.

With 109 teams from Jiangsu registered, the event focuses on testing mental strength rather than physical prowess through competitions such as chess, bridge, darts, Rubik's Cube, and card games. Over 3,000 people, including athletes, coaches, and referees, have participated in the games.

The quadrennial event showcases the development of mass mind sports across Jiangsu, said Zhou Lingmei, an official with the provincial sports department. She added that the oldest participants in the games are 75 years old, and the youngest is just five.

Many primary and secondary schools in Jiangsu have introduced chess courses. "Students can enhance their memory and thinking abilities while playing chess, which is why chess games are well received among students and parents," Zhou said.

Darts has also become popular among college students in Jiangsu, with over 40 universities in the province offering darts courses.