The competition, drawing about 500 teams from over 20 countries, took place on 14.-16.8.2026 in Helsinki, Finland.

All members of the Portuguese Mölkky team Club Nebuchadnezzar are Finnish citizens who have spent winters in the Algarve. Three couples had their traditional meetup at one couple's summer home in late June. They were enjoying a casual game of Mölkky, a popular and fun yard game in Finland, when they got the idea of registering for the world championship tournament. The tournament was already sold out, but the team signed up on the waiting list and, after some team cancellations, later received a spot.

The Mölkky world champion team this year is Moon Prism Power from Japan. Phoenixxx, also from Japan, took silver, and Finskaroos Kulta from Australia won bronze. The results for Club Nebuchadnezzar were not great, but the team exceeded its goal to win at least one set. They beat a team from France and another team from Japan, both 2-0.

Participating in the tournament was such a fun and great experience that the team now wants to introduce the game of Mölkky to a wider and more international audience in the Algarve. “We know that the Finnish community in Portimão has been playing Mölkky in Praia da Rocha for a few years already. Now we plan to start playing it in Ferragudo, with the goal of getting new local and international people to try this fun game. We will organise open events for people to try Mölkky at the Praia Angrinha petanque fields in Ferragudo in October. We also plan to organise Mölkky matches and tournaments going forward,” explains Club Nebuchadnezzar’s captain O.P. Puikkonen.

If you’re interested in learning more and trying out/playing Mölkky this fall and onwards, please contact O.P. Puikkonen (op.puikkonen@gmail.com). For more information on Mölkky and how it’s played, see https://www.molkky.com/game/rules/

What is Mölkky?


Mölkky is a traditional Finnish yard game that involves tossing a wooden throwing pin (called the Mölkky) at 12 numbered wooden pins (known as skittles) arranged in a formation. The objective? Knock over the pins and score exactly 50 points to win the game. It’s a combination of strategy, skill, and just the right amount of luck!

The game is easy to learn but has enough depth to keep players of all ages and skill levels engaged. Plus, Mölkky can be played on a variety of surfaces—grass, gravel, or even sand—making it the perfect outdoor game for backyards, parks, or beach outings.