50 contestants from 16 nations from around the world are competing for the title of 2005 World Memory Champion this weekend.

The battle is being held at Oxford University's Examination School in the UK, where a winner is set to be announced by Monday.

The best among 50 competitors will attempt to memorize 4,000 binary digits, 2,500 random numbers, a 500-word poem, 300 digits spoken at a speed of one per second, 200 random words, 100 names and faces, 110 historic dates and 24 packs of cards.

The current best time for memorizing a pack of cards is 32.5 seconds.

In the World Memory Championships, dominated in every category for almost 15 years by British contestants, the increasing might of their biggest challenger is the subject of anxious speculation.

A German squad of 16, including 10 people said to be capable of winning the title or second place, will battle with only three serious British competitors and two newcomers.

Organizer Andrew Hughes-Hallett says, "this year the heat of the competition will revolve around the challenge from the German contingent."