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So is anyone going?

I wish!

I expect quite a few people will be going. However I will not be one of them. Because I can't afford it.

I am going to China but I am not going to Spasm.

I am going to FISM and attending the closeup competition. Anyone else? Wanna meet up?

Hi Rune,

yes, I will be at FISM (that is if I get my visa!).

I haven't found any post here about the competition at FISM in China, so here it is:

Comedy Magic:
* 1st place ~ not awarded
* 2nd place ~ Brynolf & Ljung - Sweden
* 3rd place ~ Cheff Magic - Denmark

Mentalism:
* 1st place ~ not awarded
* 2nd place ~ tie - Nicolai Friedrich - Germany - and Rob & Emiel - Netherlands
* 3rd place ~ Tony Montana - Argentina

Stage Illusions:
* 1st place ~ Julius Franck - Germany
* 2nd place ~ Magic Sky Group - China
* 3rd place ~ not awarded

General Magic:
* 1st place ~ Soma - Hungary
* 2nd place ~ Ma Yanyan - China
* 3rd place ~ Siebensinn - Austria

Manipulation:
* 1st place ~ tie - Yo Kato - Japan - and Han Seol-Hui - Korea
* 2nd place ~ Sebastian Nicolas - Germany
* 3rd place ~ An Ha Lim - Korea

Most Original Act:
* Charming Choi - Korea

Invention:
* Jorge Luengo - Spain

Micro Magic:
* 1st place ~ not awarded
* 2nd place ~ Vittorio Belloni - Italy
* 3rd place ~ tie Simon Coronel - Australia and Johan Stahl - Sweden

Cards:
* 1st place ~ Shawn Farquhar - Canada
* 2nd place ~ Kristian Nivala - Finland
* 3rd place ~ Olmac - Franc

Parlour Magic
* 1st place ~ Marc Oberon - UK
* 2nd place ~ Charlie Caper - Sweden
* 3rd place ~ Latko - Argentina

And the Grand Prix Winners of FISM 2009 were:

* Closeup ~ Shawn Farquhar - Canada
* Stage ~ Soma - Hungary

Congratulations to them all!

Thanks for posting that - and congratulations to Marc Oberon. What a guy.

bananafish wrote: congratulations to Marc Oberon. What a guy.

And all those going to the Ipswich Magic Day in October this year will be able to see Marc perform some of his stunning magic - can't wait!

gunnarkr wrote:Most Original Act:
* Charming Choi - Korea

Bloody hell, that act must've changed significantly in the last couple of years! Last time I saw him he was not "charming" which made me question whether or not he was actually called "choi"

Can anyone explain why first places were "not awarded" when 2nd and 3rd were? Was the standard just really low they felt they had to bring first place down a peg?

The points system for the prizes is explained on the FISM site.

If a competitor has not reached a certain standard (and therefore does not receive the needed number of points) the award is no given.

Strangely enough the first prize was given in the illusion category, but third prize was not awarded.

Congratulations to Marc - keep the flag flying!

Here is a video clip from FISM on Chinese TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMBo8PQwwTA

And here is Soma from Hungary with his FISM winning stage act!
It's absolutely brilliant!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jucxw56RDik

It was strange to see the Masked Magician was the first program on the tv that we opened when we settled into our hotel on Thursday night!

Soma was a good act, but some of the Asian acts were better, and many people we spoke with agreed that an Asian act should have won.

Rune,
Looks like we did accidentally meet up Beijing airport, the hotel, and the convention. Didnt realise you were a tm user. Only when you spotted the badge - thanks Mandrake!

Laurence,
Charming Charming Charming Choi did a cups and ball routine - under water. Rather good actually - some fairly impressive final loads as well.

Tenko!
For ye who doubted that Lennart Green's blindfold was see through - not only did he really overdo it, and cover his nose etc. He also had david williamson wrap his head in tin foil etc. Very good act.

Lee,
Honestly, I liked Soma's act. It made a change from everyone producing cards, fans, balls, thimbles, flowers & water. I dont know about everyone else, but that water production act in the first night had me bored to tears.

EDIT: Also - 2nd place in the Micro Magic - Vittorio Belloni should have gotten first place - not second. Because first place wasnt awarded - the grand prix of close up was between Marc Oberon & Shawn Farquhar. Vittorio Belloni's act was damn near perfect. Entertaining, smooth, skillful and very nice twist ending. No explanation given as to why.

Not to mention Charlie Caper from Sweden should also have won his category, because Marc Oberon didnt enter the Parlour Magic - he entered Micro with a huge act! The judges switched his categories.

There's my rant over...

2ND EDIT: I dont know for sure, and its not a full explanation, but I think I know why 1st place in Mentalism wasnt awarded. Because the best mentalism act of the week was a Juan Ordeix from Sweden, but he was disqualified, because since the 2003 FISM in Den haag - a competitor can be disqualified for the use of stooges. (Not a word from you Laurence )

Lawrence has a W in it by the way!