Mölkky

Mölkky (), also known as Finska is a Finnish throwing game invented by Lahden Paikka company (formerly known as Tuoterengas) in 1996. It is reminiscent of kyykkä, a centuries-old throwing game with Karelian roots. However, Mölkky does not require as much physical strength as kyykkä, and is more suitable for everyone regardless of age and condition. Mölkky requires no special equipment and success is based on a combination of chance and skill.
Lahden Paikka has sold nearly 200,000 sets in Finland.

2016 Lahden Paikka sold all rights of Mölkky, games production and the trademark to Finnish company Tactic Games Oy.  Mölkky is protected trademark. All Mölkky games are manufactured in Pori, Finland

Rules

The players use a wooden pin to try to knock over wooden pins (also called "skittles") of almost similar dimensions with the throwing pin, which are marked with numbers from 1 to 12. The pins are initially placed in a tight group in an upright position 3–4 meters away from the throwing line, with the pins organized as follows: 1st row, 1/2; 2nd row, 3/10/4; 3rd row, 5/11/12/6; 4th row, 7/9/8. Knocking over one pin scores the number of points marked on the pin. Knocking 2 or more pins scores the number of pins knocked over (e.g., knocking over 3 pins scores 3 points). A pin does not count if it is leaning on the throwing stick or one of the numbered pins (it must be parallel to the ground to count). After each throw, the pins are stood up again in the exact location where they landed. The first one to reach exactly 50 points wins the game. Scoring more than 50 will be penalised by setting the player's score back to 25 points. A player will be eliminated from the game if they miss all of the target pins three times in a row.

Organizations and competitions

Mölkky players have started more than 250 Mölkky Associations. International Mölkky Organization is umbrella organization for Mölkky associations. 10 countries are currently official members

The Finnish championships for mölkky have been organised in Lahti since 1997 by the union of youth clubs in Southern Tavastia. The technology students in Tampere organised world championships in academic Mölkky in 2001. The Finnish Mölkky Union has been formed to promote the game and its subculture. The first Australian Championships were held 2010 and then 2011. 

In the United States, Molkky USA and the US Molkky Association have sanctioned the U.S. Tour since 2014 and have declared US National Champions each year since then. The Berzerkerz (Coleman Rydie & Clint Childers) are the Current US National Champions, winning the title in 2014 and 2015.

The 2016 was first time when Mölkky World Championship was organised outside Finland. Tournament was organized in Le Rheu, France.
Next year, 2017, it was organized in Prague (Czech Republic),
2018 in Pori Finland and
2019 in Samoëns, France.
The 2020 World Championship will be organized in Hyvinkää, Finland

Numbering Song

Due to the quirky nature of the starting arrangement, a song was produced to help young players in the UK remember the order.

To the tune of 1-2-3-4-5. Once I caught a fish alive...

 1, 2
 3, 10, 4
 5, 11, 12, 6
 7, 9, 8

External links

Tactic Games Oy
www.molkky.com
International Mölkky Organization
Finnish International Mölkky Association web site (in Finnish; English version)
Tuoterengas (in Finnish)
Slovak Mölkky Association (in Slovak)
French Mölkky Association (in French)
Japan Mölkky Association 
Czech Mölkky Association
SMS Södertälje Mölkky Sällskap, Sweden Association(in Swedish)
List of Mölkky tournaments by Mölkky World

Category:Lawn games
Category:Precision sports
Category:Finnish games
Category:Sports originating in Finland
Category:Throwing games
Category:Bowling