Regular rummy and other card games are banned or considered taboo by many different religions, and their followers. This is the result of years of negative image build-up that card playing and gambling are evil pursuits.

Rummikub® on the other hand, is a purely numbered tile game with no images of kings & queens, etc. Rummikub® promotes calm, release of tension, and is considered by millions of lay men and women around the world, as socially relaxing and interactive play for all ages. Also clergymen and clergywomen of many denominations enjoy this peaceful and enjoyable game. Some even call it "heavenly," as it encourages goodwill and good feelings among those playing the game, to the soothing sound of the clicking Rummikub® tiles.

 

  At War

During the Gulf War, while Sadam Hussein's deadly screaming scuds re-entered the atmosphere, gas masked Israeli children, women and men, played Rummikub® to dispel the tension and fear. In 1996 as katyusha missiles slammed into the town of Kiriat Shmona, people of all ages sat in their bomb shelters and played Rummikub® and found it to be a true tranquilizer. The only after-effects were that many found the game to be habit forming, and continued playing Rummikub® even after the sirens announced the all clear.

Danger Pirates

Bruce and Annelie Guertheim of Germany were pleasure sailing on their private yacht in the North Sea, about 100 kilometers off the German coast. Suddenly, Bruce (52) noticed a boat rapidly approaching the yacht. Bruce was sure that something mechanical was wrong in the boat, and he tried to maneuver out of the path of the oncoming vessel, but did not succeed, and the boat came alongside the yacht.

Before the Guertheims understood what was happening, men on the boat extended a 10 meter long plank onto the yacht's deck and quickly boarded the private yacht. "This is a robbery," said a man in English, and said: "hand over all of your valuables."

The pirates took with them Dm 3,000. in cash, Annelie's jewelry, a TV, stereo, and a Rummikub® set, and rushed back to their boat after smashing the radio, and disappeared quickly northward.

Police of various countries bordering the North Sea, have been investigating similar incidents for many weeks, as the German couple were not the only ones to lose their valuable possessions; especially Rummikub®.

Underground

In 1996 Rummikub® was introduced to commuters in an amusing poster campaign in the London Underground. But this was not the first time that Rummikub® had gone underground. On December 4-6, 1994 the Miners Union of Jastrzembie Poland staged the first ever subterranean Rummikub® tournament in a salt mine, 600 meters below the surface of the earth. The mine is a well known tourist attraction, which features beautiful salt statues, and ornate wall carvings. The Rummikub® underground tournament competitors were required to wear miner's helmets with lit lamps, and bright Rummikub® logos.

We are now considering future trans-terranean or inter-galactic Rummikub® competitions, because Rummikub® is a great fun game in both inner or outer space. Dedicated players can already practice their space techniques with the new "Next Generation" version of Rummikub® for weightless fun in space.

 Trivia

If you could place all the Rummikub® tiles manufactured end to end, they would make a line that would circle the Earth two and a half times.

An estimated one billion people around the world enjoy playing Rummikub®.

Based on quantities sold, there are over 40,000,000 joker tiles in use today.

Rummikub® competitions have been held: on the Eiffel Tower, in cruise ships, in mines, at famous resorts (Cannes, Miami Beach, The Catskills, Wijk ann Zee, etc.).

Three generations of players (of one family) competed In Israel's last grand national finals. Although a family member did not win the championship, it proved that people of all ages can enjoy playing together. The family that plays together, stays together.

Hollywood celebrities who enjoy playing Rummikub® are: Elisabeth Taylor, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart, the late Telly Savalas, and many others.

Rummikub's first world champion (1991) was Japan`s Masato Kuwahara who used a special "end-game" technique to win the world cup. The second world champion was Mrs. Nehad Zahran (mother of 3) of Alexandria Egypt. The third world champion (1997) was Mr. Peter Mentzij of Holland. The fourth world champion was miss Carla Van Perlo from Holland (2000)

Who will be the next world champion in 2003?