14th Annual USA Memory Championship

NEW YORK, NY, January 29, 2011 (Press-News.org) Can't remember where you parked the car or what you had for dinner last night? Try remembering a shuffled deck of cards or put 99 names to faces you've only seen for a few minutes - it can be done. The "mental athletes" competing in the 14thAnnual U.S.A. Memory Championship have been training for the past year. They will put their memories to the test on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Con Edison's Grand Auditorium in NYC from 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Let it be known that memorizing facts and numbers can get you worldwide recognition, as evidenced by Joshua Foer, the 2006 Memory Champion. He landed a $1.25 million dollar book deal from Penguin Press. Walking with Einstein: the Art and Science of Remembering Everything will be available in bookstores on March 3, 2011.

Competitors will attempt to memorize the following in 5 to 15 minute time periods -- depending on the event:
• 500 numbers
• 99 names and faces
• An unpublished poem including punctuation
• Two decks of shuffled cards

According to Tony Dottino, chairman and founder of the U.S.A. Memory Championship, and an expert in memory techniques, business innovation, and creativity in the workplace, "The number of mental feats accomplished by our competitors never ceases to amaze us. Whether they are students from New Jersey, actors from California or sales professionals from New York City, the competition gets tougher every year!"

Last year's champion, Afghanistan war veteran and Texas native Ron White will return to defend his crown for the third year in a row. White holds the North American record for the fastest memorization of a shuffled deck of cards (1 minute, 27 seconds). "Anyone can train his or her mind to remember more effectively with just a few minutes of practice each day. There's a lot more you can do with your brain and your memory than you ever believed possible," White says.

The winner will represent America in the World Games, scheduled for November. Previous World Games were held in London, China, Bahrain, and Kuala Lumpur.

Spectators are welcome for free, throughout the day, and are eligible to receive an iCue Memory App. for the iPhone, courtesy of Sponsor, Concentric Sky (http://icue-memory.com) and a Good Thinking Kit courtesy of Marbles: The Brain Store (www.marblesthebrainstore.com).

There's still time to register as a competitor for the 2011 U.S.A. Memory Championship. Visit the official web site at http://www.usamemorychampionship.com. No pre-qualification is necessary. The deadline to enter is February 28, 2011.