FISM WINNERS ANNOUNCED :: BY CRAIG MITCHELL

Shawn Farquhar cast a protective aura around his FISM Trophy.Today is the last day of FISM China ... the week has simply flown by.  Big congratulations to both Marc Oberon & Shawn Farquhar who we do know have made it to the Grand Prix Close-up Finals.

And the winners are:

Marc Oberon Celebrates his win in the Parlour Division.
Invention:
- Jorge Luengo - Spain

Most Original Act:
- Charming Choi - Korea

Micro Magic
- 1st place ... not awarded
- 2nd place ... Vittorio Belloni - Italy
- 3rd place ...Simon Coronel - Australia and Johan Stahl - Sweden

Big congratulations to Australia for the first FISM win for the Australian Institute of Magic !!!

Cards
- 1st place ... Shawn Farquhar - Canada
- 2nd place ... Kristian Nivala - Finland
- 3rd place ... Olmac - France

Parlour Magic
- 1st place ... Marc Oberon - UK
- 2nd place ... Charlie Caper - Sweden
- 3rd place ... Latko - Argentina

Marc Oberon had originally entered Micro. The judges chose to change his category to Parlour.

Comedy Magic
- 1st place ... not awarded
- 2nd place ... Brynolf & Ljung - Sweden
- 3rd place ... Cheff Magic - Denmark

Mentalism
- 1st place ... not awarded
- 2nd place ...
tie - Nicolai Friedrich - Germany - and Rob & Emiel - Netherlands
- 3rd place ... Tony Montana - Argentina

Stage Illusions
- 1st place ... Julius Franck - Germany
- 2nd place ... Magic Sky Group - China
- 3rd place ... not awarded

General Magic
- 1st place ... Soma - Hungary
- 2nd place ... Ma Yanyan - China
- 3rd place ... Siebensinn - Austria

An Ha LimManipulation
- 1st place ... tie - Yo Kato - Japan - and Han Seol-Hui - Korea
- 2nd place ... Sebastian Nicolas - Germany
- 3rd place ... An Ha Lim - Korea


And what is an awards show without some controversy ;-) Mentalist Juan Ordeix ( who had received a standing ovation for his act ) was disqualified for having used stooges which is contrary to FISM rules.

No major surprises in the results & there seems to be general consensus all round. The 1st place winners ( besides Julius Franck who is unable to participate due to a cast member injury ) compete this evening in the Grand Prix finals.

Excitement is mounting ... FISM magic is in the air.