In a moving display of community spirit, 912 Monopoly enthusiasts gathered yesterday at the Olympia London Exhibition Centre to honor the memory of 8‑year‑old Lily Watson, who lost her battle with leukemia in 2023. Their mission: to set a new Guinness World Record for the most people playing Monopoly simultaneously—and they succeeded.
Organized by the Lily Watson Foundation, the event brought together families, schoolchildren, and die‑hard board‑game fans. Each participant received a special “In Lily’s Memory” token and a customized board featuring Lily’s favorite colors—pink and purple. As the starting horn sounded at 2 pm, the roar of 912 unified voices filled the hall.
“Lily’s laughter was the soundtrack of our home,” recalled her mother, Sarah Watson. “Seeing so many people come together to celebrate her joy means the world to us.”
A team of five Guinness adjudicators circulated among the players, timing the full 60‑minute round required for record validation. When the final buzzer rang, lead adjudicator Simon Caldwell confirmed the achievement:
“We’ve verified 912 concurrent players—all actively taking turns on a single Monopoly session. This surpasses the previous record of 834, set in Minneapolis in 2022, and is now officially recognized.”
Beyond the record, the gathering raised over £7,500 in donations for pediatric cancer research, with proceeds earmarked for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. Local volunteers provided board‑game tutorials for younger children, ensuring no one felt left behind.
“Lily loved teaching her friends how to build hotels on Boardwalk,” said event coordinator Priya Desai. “Today, her spirit lives on in every dice roll and property swap.”
As the crowd dispersed, many lingered to share stories of Lily’s unwavering optimism. The Lily Watson Foundation has already announced plans for next year’s “Monopoly Marathon,” hoping to break the record again and keep Lily’s memory—and her love of play—alive.
