Can You Beat Your Kids? Science Meets Speed in Dobble Showdown at Sidmouth Festival
Do quick reactions, sharp eyes, and a scientific mind make the ultimate Dobble champion? That’s the question organisers are setting out to answer at this year’s Sidmouth Science Festival Dobble Competition, where fun meets research in a high-speed tournament of matching wits.
Held at the SVA HQ on October 18th as part of the festival’s packed programme of hands-on events, the competition invites locals of all ages – from primary schoolers to pensioners – to test their observational skills and reflexes in the fast-paced card game Dobble (also known as Spot It!).You can even take part if you've never 'Dobbled' in your life or don't know what it is.
There will be five sessions during the day. Each contestant will play short one-on-one games with all the other contestants in their session. Sessions are of one hour duration and will commence at: 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm and 3:00 pm.
“We’re not just playing for fun – we’re also collecting anonymised data,” said Colin White, one of the organisers. “We’ll be looking at age, background, sports involvement, and different thinking strategies to explore how people approach the game. Do adults really outperform kids? Do athletes have an edge? We want to find out.”
Players will take part in a mini-tournament, and between rounds, be invited to complete a short questionnaire about themselves on how they think they’re playing – and why. Researchers hope the data will reveal patterns in attention span, strategy, and maybe even generational differences.
The event is designed to be inclusive, family-friendly, and above all – fun.
Whether you’re a seasoned card shark or just in it for the laughs, all are welcome. Think you can beat your kids? Want to test your reflexes against a sprightly six-year-old or a retired tennis coach? Come and be part of the fun – and the data.
