Stephen A. Smith to Host Inaugural World Solitaire Championship in Miami

The inaugural World Solitaire Championship (WSC) will take place in Miami, marking the first global competitive event for the classic card game Solitaire. Mobile game company Papaya is organizing the event, which will feature 400 players competing on iPads for a grand prize of $150,000, and it will be hosted by sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, who gained viral attention for playing Solitaire during the NBA Finals. Smith, appointed as the official ambassador for the WSC, has expressed enthusiasm for elevating Solitaire into a skill-based competition celebrating culture and competition. Papaya is launching an AI-driven promotional campaign involving creative agencies Ariely Original, The Artery, and Too Short for Modeling to highlight the event and the game's competitive aspect. The championship aims to transform Solitaire from a casual pastime into an engaging spectator sport, with Smith's dynamic presence expected to attract viewers. This event underscores a growing trend of turning casual games into competitive spectacles, leveraging AI technology for innovative marketing.