Sports
Shanghai Embraces Guandan: The Inaugural "Yanghe Dream Blue Cup" Open
In an effort to elevate the popular card game Guandan to professional status, nearly 300 enthusiasts gathered at Luwan Gymnasium for the inaugural "Yanghe Dream Blue Cup" Shanghai City Guandan Open, marking a significant milestone in the game's development.
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In the early hours of July 14, 2024, the "Yanghe Dream Blue Cup" Shanghai City Guandan (Guanpai) Open officially commenced at the Luwan Gymnasium, with the inaugural qualifying match kicking off simultaneously. Nearly 300 Guandan enthusiasts gathered to engage in friendly competition through the game. For the first time, this Open has introduced a competitive category alongside the traditional public category, marking a significant step toward the professional and standardized development of Guandan, a burgeoning intellectual sport with a solid grassroots foundation.
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From Folk Game to Formal Sport
Guandan, originating from Huai'an in Jiangsu, involves four players paired into two teams competing in an upgraded card game. Due to its low entry threshold, variability, and strong social attributes, it has garnered widespread popularity among the public in recent years. After a thorough investigation by the Board and Card Games Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, it was determined that Guandan aligns with the spirit of new project recognition. As a result, the decision was made to pilot the sport under the name "Competitive Guandan," with the ultimate goal of it becoming an official sports event. Consequently, the General Administration of Sport of China has successively issued several Guandan competition regulations, including the "Competitive Guandan Poker Competition Rules (Trial)" and the "Guandan (Guanpai) Event Hosting Guidelines (Trial)." Notably, Guandan was listed as an exhibition event at the Fifth National Mind Sports Games held in Hefei last year.
To further popularize the Guandan sport, enhance Shanghai's competitive level, and promote healthy and orderly development, the Shanghai Board and Card Games Administrative Center organized this Shanghai City Guandan Open, with support from the Shanghai Leisure Card Games Association and the Shanghai Guandan Association. The tournament, running from mid-July to the end of August, includes three qualifying matches and a final. Enthusiastic participants registered promptly when the first qualifying match opened for sign-ups on July 5. Today, the Luwan Gymnasium is bustling with activity, hosting a grand gathering for Guandan enthusiasts.
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Regulations Foster Longevity
During the first meeting of the first session of the Shanghai Guandan Association held earlier this year, the direction and requirements were clearly established: standardization, talent cultivation, collaboration promotion, and brand building. Dan Xiali, the head coach of the Shanghai Board and Card Games Administrative Center, told reporters, "For a sport to have vitality, its competitive level must develop. Guandan is highly entertaining and easy to pick up, making it a beloved activity among the public. However, to elevate the level of play, we need to study the techniques and rules, to explore and develop both the fun and competitiveness of Guandan, rather than relying solely on chance."
Dan Xiali explained that for the competitive level of Guandan to sustainably develop, rules must come first. Only with standardized rules can the sport expand its reach. "Guandan has a high technical content. The establishment of rules must eliminate the element of luck, ensuring that gameplay reflects skill and fairness."
Today's inaugural qualifying match in the competitive category adopted new rules and formats: each round consists of six hands, with a time limit of 50 minutes, and all players use the same set of cards. Barriers were erected at the card tables, and specific zones were designated for playing and reporting cards. After each hand, players entered scores into a machine and returned the cards to the box according to the designated directions (east, south, west, north). Referees were present to supervise the proceedings. Some players were experiencing "competitive Guandan" for the first time, taking special care to confirm details with referees before opening their card boxes and starting the game.
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Unveiling Charm and Cultivating Talent
Yao Jinchong, secretary-general of the Shanghai 985 University Alliance Guandan Club, participated in the first competitive group match. In the first round, he and his partner Zhong Ming sat in the south-north position. "The competitive group uses card sets pre-arranged by computer. Today, the cards we got required good defense. As for the final results, it depends on comparing the outcomes of the south-north players at other tables."
The competitive group matches thus put a greater emphasis on the players' skill and teamwork. Within the rules, players use accurate judgment and analysis to employ various card-playing strategies to outwit opponents and strive for the best results. As a seasoned Guandan enthusiast who has also organized intercollegiate alumni Guandan competitions, Yao Jinchong noted that standardized rules help to reveal the competitive appeal of Guandan. "The foundation of playing a hand well in a match is understanding the underlying principles of the cards."
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The first qualifying match concluded in the afternoon, with Wan Longteng/Zhu Kuifu, Tian Wei/Liu Wei, and Zhang Bowen/Shan Hailin taking the top three spots in the competitive group, while Liu Hua/Tian Xiaoli, You Qing/Wang Zheng, and Chen Haobing/Chen Xiang topped the public group. The second qualifying match of the Open will be held on August 3 at the Jing'an District Gymnasium, with registration opening on July 14. Dan Xiali emphasized that organizing the Shanghai City Guandan Open also serves as a platform for talent cultivation. "We hope to discover Guandan talents through the competition, forming a professional talent pool and enhancing Shanghai's competitive level nationwide."