It all started in March, teams tried out to compete in the 2nd ever Prison Island World Cup Championship

You might remember, Belfast’s Country Final hosted 13.10.24, 14 fierce teams fought tooth and nail for a spot in the final. The energy was electric as the top contenders gathered each team with their eyes on the prize: a ticket to Malmö, Sweden. Only two teams could qualify and after a day filled with hard-earned points, and strategy, two stood victorious, ready to take on the ultimate showdown.

Once in Malmö, the air was thick with tension. Competitors geared up, psyched up, and were “rising up to the challenge of their rivals.” But just before the whistle, the head prison guard himself, Mr. Jackson threw a massive curveball: “11 cells have been updated,” he announced, “and 3 cells now have different points available.” The surprise hit everyone hard—strategy would have to adapt on the fly.

This year was unlike last because families and friends around the world could keep track of their team’s scores live with the introduction of the online leaderboard https://courtyard.prisonisland.com/en/?date=2024-11-1

With real-time updates, the onlookers had a clear view of each team’s progress. It was strategy central out there. Some teams went straight for the easy cells, keeping their points low at first but banking on stamina for later. Fans knew these teams were capable of much more, so watching them at the bottom of the leaderboard was a nail-biter. Other teams hit the hardest cells right away, racking up major points early on and making it look like they were “rising up, back on the street,” miles ahead of the competition.

The twist? The screens in the prison were off, so players had no clue about their standings. All they could do was keep pushing forward, while the announcer kept everyone aware of the minutes ticking away over the tannoy.

As the minutes dwindled, the pressure turned up to max. Some teams were zipping around the cells so fast we swear they were clocking at least 20 miles per hour—“just a man and his will to survive.” The battle was fierce, and we were all glued to the Courtyard, watching every move. With five minutes left, those who hadn’t managed to crack the hardest cells, were left rolling their heads back, defeated.

This year’s World Cup was one for the books, filled with surprises, high-speed sprints, and the constant beat of “the eye of the tiger.”

Some tactics hit the mark, while others left teams reeling in the final moments. But one thing’s for sure: no one will forget it. It was GREAT! 

A huge thank you to the teams that made the trip the whole way to Sweden to represent us. With 25 teams competing this year, Belfast had a strong presence with two dedicated teams –Cheawon’s Angels and Extra DMG. 

Cheawon’s Angels made a bold choice, swapping out a player at the last minute for a well known reigning champ, Marc, who’s one-third of the legendary Head Honchos. This last-minute shake-up helped them climb to a respectable 16th out of 25.Extra DMG, who held the 8th spot with 2 minutes left to spare, only to drop as the song FINALLY changed to we are the champions. Even so, they finished with an impressive 10th place, representin’ Belfast! 

But the ultimate champions were Crepp and Co., a team known for their relentless training. Their hard work paid off, as they took the title and are now bringing the World Cup trophy to Lille, France!

If reading about this high-energy, nail-biting competition has you wishing you’d been there, then you’re in luck! Prison Island Belfast offers team-building experiences year-round for families, friends, and future world champions alike. So make sure you see if you’ve got what it takes and join next year’s qualifiers.

A massive thank you to Malmö for being fantastic hosts and letting everyone run wild in the prison for a night filled with unforgettable moments. Here’s to another amazing World Cup—until next year!