A Different Kind of Competition

Jax at 24 Game Competition
April 26, 2017

I attend a lot of sporting events. It is evident from my posts. The events range from professional sports to youth sports and I participate in in two sports on a regular basis: racquetball and golf. 

Last evening I attended my first math event. It was the Anne Arundel County 3rd Grade 24 Game Championship. Jackson was one of two students representing his local elementary school at the County-wide finals. 

Jax in Action
24 Game Competition

Sadly, due to traffic, I was a few minutes late, but let me set the scene when I arrived at the Annapolis Senior High School gymnasium. There were ten tables with four children at each table with a proctor looking at cards using the four numbers on the cards to mathematically total 24. The crowd in the stands, which were full, was absolutely silent. There was no noise. I was a bit eerie walking into a full gym in silence with every eye looking at me wondering why I was late. 

The game progressed much like a chess match. I love to play chess--I do not like to watch chess being played. It can be like watching grass grow.

As the game progressed we really could not tell how Jax was doing. It appeared he was doing great, but after two rounds of the scheduled four round competition, Jax did not make the cut. But overall he did very well. 

It was an interesting event, but it definitely was not a spectator sport. 

Congrats, Jax! 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD