I’m a huge sports fan; it sometimes drives my family up the wall, especially on big sporting weekends. But some sports aren’t quite as obvious and take place online during the weekdays.
Welcome to the GeoGuessr World Cup.
Wait, There’s a GeoGuessr World Cup?
Yes, the browser-based geography-guessing game has a World Cup event, with 17 competing nations and 25 competitors vying for the $25,000 title.
The first official LAN GeoGuessr World Cup was hosted in Paris in 2022, with the winning team, the Speed Plonkers, receiving a hefty $19,700 cheque for their efforts. In this year’s edition, all players compete under their national flag, with the USA managing to push five individual Guessrs into the finals.
How Does the GeoGuessr World Cup Work?
It’s surprisingly similar to any other competitive sport. A round-robin group stage comprises four groups, where competitors play each person to qualify for the knockout rounds. The group winner advances straight to the quarter-finals, while the two group runner-ups enter the knockout stage.
Each GeoGuessr game comprises ten rounds, and all matches are best-of-three. That means, in each match, the competitors see ten different images and have to guess more accurately than their opponent.
Furthermore, each correct guess “damages” the opponent, reducing their score while adding to a damage multiplier. More correct guesses equal a higher damage multiplier, and you’re trying to reduce your opponent’s score to zero.
It’s Surprisingly Good Viewing
Now, you probably think watching two people frantically scramble around Google Street View to find out where they are in the world sounds awful.
But hear me out: the speed, accuracy, and knowledge of the GeoGuessr competitors is genuinely incredible. I watched Irish competitor Finbarr battle Japanese entrant Shiina, and the minute details both noticed within seconds of loading the previously unseen Street View is bonkers. Within seconds, both competitors tracked down and noticed unique environmental cues to help them figure out the location, then speedily set a location to take points from each other.
And don’t worry—you won’t be the only one. I tuned into Australia versus Japan and noticed 5,000 other viewers were also taking in the spectacle.
The 2024 GeoGuessr World Cup is underway right now, running from 11-14 September, and you can watch it on the GeoGuessr Twitch channel. And, if you happen to be in Stockholm, Sweden, you can actually go and watch the live final on Saturday afternoon!
