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{{Short description|British mnemonist (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Ben Pridmore
| name = Ben Pridmore
| image = Ben Pridmore.JPG
| image = Ben Pridmore.JPG
| caption = Pridmore at Memoriad World Mental Olympic 2012
| caption = Pridmore at Memoriad World Mental Olympic 2012
| birth_date = <!-- {{birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. -->
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|10|14|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place = [[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]], [[United Kingdom]]
| residence = [[Derby]], [[England]]
| birth_name = Ben Pridmore
| nationality = British
| nationality = British
| occupation = [[Accountant]], [[World Memory Champion]]
| occupation = [[Accountant]], [[World Memory Champion]]
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}}
}}


'''Ben Pridmore''' is a former world memory champion, [[memory sport]] competitor and [[accountant]].
'''Ben Pridmore''' (born 14 October 1976) is a former world memory champion, [[memory sport]] competitor and [[accountant]].


==Achievements==
==Achievements==
Pridmore is a three time World Memory Champion winning the title 2004, 2008 and 2009.<ref>[http://web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/competitor.php?id=29 Profile at Memory Sports Statistics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227164707/http://web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/competitor.php?id=29 |date=February 27, 2008 }}, web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/, accessed February 5, 2009.</ref> From [[Derby]] in the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8202827.stm Memory champs meet for UK contest] BBC News, accessed August 15, 2009.</ref> Pridmore achieved this by winning a 10-discipline competition, the [[World Memory Championship]], which has taken place every year since 1991. He has also earned the prestigious title of [[Grand Master of Memory|Master of Memory]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.memory-sports.com/champion/ben-pridmore/|title=Memory Champion Profile: Ben Pridmore|website=Memory Sports|language=en-us|access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref>
Pridmore is a three-time World Memory Champion winning the title 2004, 2008 and 2009.<ref>[http://web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/competitor.php?id=29 Profile at Memory Sports Statistics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227164707/http://web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/competitor.php?id=29 |date=February 27, 2008 }}, web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/, accessed February 5, 2009.</ref> From [[Derby]] in the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8202827.stm Memory champs meet for UK contest] BBC News, accessed August 15, 2009.</ref> Pridmore achieved this by winning a 10-discipline competition, the [[World Memory Championship]], which has taken place every year since 1991. He has also earned the prestigious title of [[Grand Master of Memory|Master of Memory]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.memory-sports.com/champion/ben-pridmore/|title=Memory Champion Profile: Ben Pridmore|website=Memory Sports|language=en-us|access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref>


He held the official world record for memorizing the order of a randomly shuffled 52-card deck, and has memorised a pack in a time of 24.68&nbsp;seconds on television.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3558811/Last-night-on-television-Superhuman-Genius-(ITV1).html Telegraph article], telegraph.co.uk, accessed February 5, 2009.</ref> This record was beaten in 2010 by German memory athlete and lawyer Simon Reinhard. He is ranked number six in the world ranking list for Memory Sports.<ref>[http://www.worldmemorychampionships.com/world_rankings.asp World Rankings],
He held the official world record for memorizing the order of a randomly shuffled 52-card deck, and has memorised a pack in a time of 24.68&nbsp;seconds on television.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090307063245/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3558811/Last-night-on-television-Superhuman-Genius-(ITV1).html Telegraph article], telegraph.co.uk, accessed February 5, 2009.</ref> This record was beaten in 2010 by German memory athlete and lawyer Simon Reinhard. Pridmore's victory at the 2009 World Championship was his eighth consecutive memory competition win since coming second at the 2007 World Championship. He is the title holder for the UK Memory Champion for the years 2007–2011 and 2013 and Welsh Open Memory Champion 2009–2012 and 2014.<ref name=":0" />
worldmemorychampionships.com, accessed February 5, 2009</ref> Pridmore's victory at the 2009 World Championship was his eighth consecutive memory competition win since coming second at the 2007 World Championship. He is the title holder for the UK Memory Champion for the years 2007-2011 and 2013 and Welsh Open Memory Champion 2009-2012 and 2014.<ref name=":0" />


Besides memory sports he is famous for his [[mental calculation]] skills and took part in the [[Mental Calculation World Cup]] in 2004, 2006 and 2010.<ref>[http://www.recordholders.org/en/events/worldcup/index.html MCWC results], recordholders.org, accessed July 20, 2010</ref> He has also won several medals at the [[Mind Sports Organisation|Mind Sports Olympiad]] including becoming the 2001 World Champion at the ten disciplined mind sport competition the [[decamentathlon]] including also [[chess]] and [[reversi]].<ref name="MSO">Mind Sports Olympiad page on the Decamentathlon http://www.boardability.com</ref>
Besides memory sports he is famous for his [[mental calculation]] skills and took part in the [[Mental Calculation World Cup]] in 2004, 2006 and 2010.<ref>[http://www.recordholders.org/en/events/worldcup/index.html MCWC results], recordholders.org, accessed July 20, 2010</ref> He has also won several medals at the [[Mind Sports Organisation|Mind Sports Olympiad]] including becoming the 2001 World Champion at the ten disciplined mind sport competition the [[decamentathlon]] including also [[chess]] and [[reversi]].<ref name="MSO">Mind Sports Olympiad page on the Decamentathlon http://www.boardability.com</ref>


He also participated [[Memoriad]] World Mental Olympics in the year 2012<ref>[http://www.memoriad.com/2012/memoriad2012_results.asp RESULTS OF MEMORIAD - 2012)]</ref> in [[Antalya]] and won one gold medal with the title "[[Memoriad]] Speed Cards World Memory Champion".
He also participated in the Memoriad World Mental Olympics in the year 2012<ref>[http://www.memoriad.com/2012/memoriad2012_results.asp RESULTS OF MEMORIAD – 2012)]</ref> in [[Antalya]] and won one gold medal with the title "Memoriad Speed Cards World Memory Champion".


He is thought to have an IQ of 159 putting him in the genius range. He was prominently featured in the music video for [[DJ Shadow]]'s single "Scale It Back".<ref>[http://vimeo.com/31908447 DJ Shadow "Scale It Back" on Vimeo]</ref>
He is thought to have an [[IQ]] of 159 putting him in the genius range. He was prominently featured in the music video for [[DJ Shadow]]'s single "Scale It Back".<ref>[http://vimeo.com/31908447 DJ Shadow "Scale It Back" on Vimeo]</ref>


==Method==
==Method==
Like most memory experts, he creates a mental story, comprises a sequence of images in a variation of the [[Mnemonic major system|Mnemonic Major System]]. In Pridmore's system for cards, two cards are represented as a three letter word by the first consonant derived from the suits, the vowel from the first card's number, and the final consonant from the second card's number. For example an Ace of Hearts and a 2 of Clubs = "fan" with his predetermined letter associations for a total of 2704 unique images. Numbers are represented similarly with the first digit a consonant, vowel, and third consonant respectively meriting 1000 images; binary is the same with chunks of 4 numbers being given a single letter representation and used in the same fashion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.memoryconsulting.com/pridmore.htm|title=Memory Consulting|website=www.memoryconsulting.com|access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref>
Like most memory experts, he creates a mental story, comprises a sequence of images in a variation of the [[Mnemonic major system|Mnemonic Major System]]. In Pridmore's system for cards, two cards are represented as a three-letter word by the first consonant derived from the suits, the vowel from the first card's number, and the final consonant from the second card's number. For example, an ace of hearts and a two of clubs = "fan" with his predetermined letter associations for a total of 2704 unique images. Numbers are represented similarly with the first digit a consonant, vowel, and third consonant respectively meriting 1000 images; binary is the same with chunks of 4 numbers being given a single letter representation and used in the same fashion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.memoryconsulting.com/pridmore.htm|title=Memory Consulting|website=www.memoryconsulting.com|access-date=2016-04-24}}</ref>


Using these words, Pridmore often creates a story using his old school, [[Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle]] as the framework for these memory sequences.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7964200.stm Memory Champion's secrets], BBC News, 7 April 2009</ref> This style of memorizing is known as the [[Method of loci|Method of Loci]], sometimes known as a [[Memory palace|Memory Palace]].
Using these words, Pridmore often creates a story using his old school, [[Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle]] as the framework for these memory sequences.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7964200.stm "Memory Champion's secrets"], BBC News, 7 April 2009</ref> This style of memorizing is known as the [[method of loci]], sometimes known as a [[memory palace]].


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120417041633/http://www.worldmemorychampionships.com:80/absolutecontent/content/World%20Rankings%20%20all%20ages%20Dec%2018.pdf Profile at World Memory Championships website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120417041633/http://www.worldmemorychampionships.com/absolutecontent/content/World%20Rankings%20%20all%20ages%20Dec%2018.pdf Profile at World Memory Championships website]
* [http://memoryconsulting.com/videos.htm Video interview]
* [http://memoryconsulting.com/videos.htm Video interview]
* [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=510260&in_page_id=1770 Chimpanzee defeats Ben in memory competition]
* [http://www.memoriad.com MEMORIAD – World Mental Olympics]
* [http://www.memoriad.com MEMORIAD – World Mental Olympics]

{{Memory}}
{{Britain's Got Talent}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Pridmore, Ben}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pridmore, Ben}}
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[[Category:British accountants]]
[[Category:British accountants]]
[[Category:British mnemonists]]
[[Category:British mnemonists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle]]
[[Category:People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle]]
[[Category:1976 births]]

Latest revision as of 18:11, 11 November 2024

Ben Pridmore
Pridmore at Memoriad World Mental Olympic 2012
Born (1976-10-14) 14 October 1976 (age 48)
Boston, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Accountant, World Memory Champion
Known forWorld Memory Champion

Ben Pridmore (born 14 October 1976) is a former world memory champion, memory sport competitor and accountant.

Achievements

[edit]

Pridmore is a three-time World Memory Champion winning the title 2004, 2008 and 2009.[1] From Derby in the United Kingdom,[2] Pridmore achieved this by winning a 10-discipline competition, the World Memory Championship, which has taken place every year since 1991. He has also earned the prestigious title of Master of Memory.[3]

He held the official world record for memorizing the order of a randomly shuffled 52-card deck, and has memorised a pack in a time of 24.68 seconds on television.[4] This record was beaten in 2010 by German memory athlete and lawyer Simon Reinhard. Pridmore's victory at the 2009 World Championship was his eighth consecutive memory competition win since coming second at the 2007 World Championship. He is the title holder for the UK Memory Champion for the years 2007–2011 and 2013 and Welsh Open Memory Champion 2009–2012 and 2014.[3]

Besides memory sports he is famous for his mental calculation skills and took part in the Mental Calculation World Cup in 2004, 2006 and 2010.[5] He has also won several medals at the Mind Sports Olympiad including becoming the 2001 World Champion at the ten disciplined mind sport competition the decamentathlon including also chess and reversi.[6]

He also participated in the Memoriad World Mental Olympics in the year 2012[7] in Antalya and won one gold medal with the title "Memoriad Speed Cards World Memory Champion".

He is thought to have an IQ of 159 putting him in the genius range. He was prominently featured in the music video for DJ Shadow's single "Scale It Back".[8]

Method

[edit]

Like most memory experts, he creates a mental story, comprises a sequence of images in a variation of the Mnemonic Major System. In Pridmore's system for cards, two cards are represented as a three-letter word by the first consonant derived from the suits, the vowel from the first card's number, and the final consonant from the second card's number. For example, an ace of hearts and a two of clubs = "fan" with his predetermined letter associations for a total of 2704 unique images. Numbers are represented similarly with the first digit a consonant, vowel, and third consonant respectively meriting 1000 images; binary is the same with chunks of 4 numbers being given a single letter representation and used in the same fashion.[9]

Using these words, Pridmore often creates a story using his old school, Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle as the framework for these memory sequences.[10] This style of memorizing is known as the method of loci, sometimes known as a memory palace.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Profile at Memory Sports Statistics Archived February 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, web.aanet.com.au/memorysports/, accessed February 5, 2009.
  2. ^ Memory champs meet for UK contest BBC News, accessed August 15, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Memory Champion Profile: Ben Pridmore". Memory Sports. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  4. ^ Telegraph article, telegraph.co.uk, accessed February 5, 2009.
  5. ^ MCWC results, recordholders.org, accessed July 20, 2010
  6. ^ Mind Sports Olympiad page on the Decamentathlon http://www.boardability.com
  7. ^ RESULTS OF MEMORIAD – 2012)
  8. ^ DJ Shadow "Scale It Back" on Vimeo
  9. ^ "Memory Consulting". www.memoryconsulting.com. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Memory Champion's secrets", BBC News, 7 April 2009
[edit]
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