India's national memory championship.
Memory is a sport. Every year, hundreds of memory athletes from across India compete in the Indian National Open Memory Championship, organised by Squadron Leader Jayasimha. The 17th is on 14 November 2026 in Hyderabad.
Inside the championship.
Photos from the 8th Indian National Memory Championship, 15 October 2017, Hyderabad. Tap a photo to see it larger.
Why a championship for memory?
There are world championships for swimming, football, cricket and athletics. Memory, the one skill all of them depend on, had none.
The World Memory Sports Council took up the idea of organising memory sports around the world. In India, the national championship has been held since 2009. Guests and media often attend the opening and closing ceremonies.
Students, working people and seniors all compete in the same format. The athlete with the highest overall score across ten events is named Indian National Memory Champion. Taking part also earns World Memory Rankings.
Ten events.
Each event carries marks. The highest total across all ten wins.
- Names and faces
- Binary numbers
- Random numbers
- Abstract images
- Speed numbers
- Historic and future dates
- Random playing cards
- Random words
- Spoken numbers
- Speed cards
Four age groups.
Prizes at the 13th championship, 2022.
Total prize money was Rs 2,10,000, with trophies, medals and certificates.
Overall
| Indian National Memory Champion | Rs 50,000 |
| First runner up | Rs 25,000 |
| Second runner up | Rs 15,000 |
In each age group
| Winner | Rs 15,000 |
| First runner up | Rs 10,000 |
| Second runner up | Rs 5,000 |
At the 16th championship in 2025, trophies and medals went to the overall winners and to the top three in each event. Everyone who competes gets a certificate of participation. Results are added to the World Memory Rankings. Prize details change each year, so check them when you register.
The 9th championship, 2018.
October 2018, Hyderabad.
Championships through the years.
The first National Memory Championship, announced in The New Indian Express.
The 8th Indian National Memory Championship, Hyderabad.
The 9th championship, Hyderabad. Sisters from Telangana won the first and second runner up trophies.
The 10th championship, Bengaluru.
The first online championship. 517 memory athletes took part: 184 kids, 93 juniors, 217 adults and 6 seniors.
The 13th championship, Hyderabad, with Rs 2,10,000 in prize money.
The 15th championship, Hyderabad.
The 16th championship at the Jayasimha Mind Education community hall, Kukatpally, Hyderabad. More than 100 memory athletes took part.
The 17th championship, at JNTUH, Hyderabad.
Watch.
Indian Memory Championship 2024
Official announcement, Indian Memory Championship 2024
The 16th Indian Memory Championship 2025
In the news.
Want to compete?
Join the training for the next championship, or ask us how to prepare.