Match of the Century

2023 · Card Game

Match of the Century

Two rival grandmasters replay a historic championship through a compact, card-driven match. Players take alternating quick games composed of a few intense turns, resolving chess-like confrontations without a full board. Each player uses an asymmetrical deck of cards with unique effects to influence the opponent’s mental endurance and the result of individual games. Cards often require sacrificing positional advantage to trigger effects, so players balance short-term gains against long-term match strategy as they play a series of games to decide the winner.

Players
2
Playing time
30–45 min
Age
10+
Complexity
2.6 / 5
7.2 on Ludoyafrom $27.96RaceTug of WarHand Management

About the game

Photos from Ludoya tables

All photos in Ludoya
  • Match of the Century on the table, photo by Sapinto
  • Match of the Century on the table, photo by Sapinto
  • Match of the Century on the table, photo by Alba Lo

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
95
Plays logged
110
Players
47m 17s
Average play
78
In collections
13
On wishlists
2
Pre-ordered

7.2/10

from 18 Ludoya reviews

  • Ferran A Sales8.5

    One of the best 2p games I have ever played. With similar feelings than Watergate, Schotten Totten and Hanamikoji, it succeeds on making an exciting game with lots of decisions and tension that lasts less than 30 minutes. An instant classic for me

    Played it 3 times

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Can I play either side of a card, or only the piece matching my colour?

You may play only the side showing your current colour face up. Players switch colours each game, so the same card may show a different piece for you next game (p. 5).

How many pawns can I add to a card, and how much strength do they give?

You may add up to 2 pawns from your personal reserve when you play a card; each pawn adds +1 strength (pp. 6–7).

What happens if both cards have the same total strength?

The exchange is tied: neither player uses a piece effect, and no advantage is gained. The game then continues unless the game-ending condition is met (p. 7).

Who gets to play first in an exchange?

In the first exchange, the player with white has the initiative. In later exchanges, it goes to the previous exchange’s winner; after a tie, it goes to the player who did not have the initiative in that exchange (p. 6).

Do we have to play all four exchanges before the game ends?

No. After each exchange, add the advantage values of the still-empty sections; if that total is less than the advantage either player already has, the game ends. Otherwise, play another exchange, up to four in total (p. 7).

What happens when I run out of cards in my draw deck?

Reshuffle your discard pile into a new deck and continue drawing; after you finish drawing, lose 1 mental endurance. If your hand is over its current limit, discard down to that limit (p. 9).

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.