By Leitch, 3:00 PM on Mon Apr 17 2006

You know something is an excellent sport when they hold its world championships in a pub.

The 2006 British and World Marbles Championship took place in Tinsley Green in London over the weekend, and the Germans were the big winners.

Interesting notes on the "tournament:"

• Two hundred spectators showed up, which was just higher than the number of competitors (six teams of 22).
• The tournament was held on the parking lot ground of a bar near the airport. It's amazing they weren't able to get more sponsors.
• We didn't know this was how the game of marbles was invented: "In 1588, two young men from the county played a game with small, round glass objects for the hand of a young lady." Who says it's tough to meet girls?

Germans Crowned World Champs As Brits Lose Their Marbles.

http://deadspin.com/167705/the-sport-of-kings