{"id":81937,"date":"2023-11-25T09:01:57","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/posterboyedit.com\/?p=81937"},"modified":"2023-11-25T09:01:57","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T09:01:57","slug":"british-musician-wins-10000-in-worlds-biggest-treasure-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/posterboyedit.com\/world-news\/british-musician-wins-10000-in-worlds-biggest-treasure-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"British musician wins $10,000 in world's biggest treasure hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"
Musician Mat Elliott really hit a high note after scooping the first prize up for grabs in the world’s richest treasure hunt.<\/p>\n
Bass player Mat, 44, was celebrating after he was announced as the winner of the first round of the global challenge in which players are competing to win a $1 million dollar grand prize.<\/p>\n
Mat told how he was ‘overjoyed’ after pocketing $10,000 in the Riyadh Season Treasure Hunt.<\/p>\n
He said he could barely believe his luck when organisers announced his win on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘It’s incredible. Initially I thought it wasn’t real.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mat Elliott, a musician from London, was announced as the winner of the first round of the global challenge in which players are competing to win a $1 million dollar grand prize<\/p>\n
‘They sent me an email last Sunday which I completely missed and it wasn’t until a couple of days later when someone in the UK got in touch that I found out.<\/p>\n
‘I didn’t believe it and thought it might be a scam before I had a look at Twitter and there it was.<\/p>\n
‘I then went back and found the email. It was one of about 10,000 I hadn’t replied to and hadn’t looked at.<\/p>\n
‘My reaction was kind of shock and disbelief. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to me.<\/p>\n
‘It’s all been a little bit of a blur to be honest.’<\/p>\n
Mat’s prize is the first announced from a further $600,000 (\u00a3475,000) in weekly prizes being offered during the contest as well as the jackpot of $1 million (\u00a3800,000).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A staggering $1m is up for grabs in a global challenge,\u00a0 the world’s richest treasure hunt<\/p>\n
The treasure hunt, described as ‘a thrilling journey of intellect, wit and exploration’ involves people from around the world attempting to complete a series of more than 30 puzzles and challenges.<\/p>\n
Players taking part in the unique contest have been seeking out hidden clues and cracking codes as they navigate a virtual AR world set around the capital of Saudi Arabia. The treasure hunt is still open and there are more prizes to be won through the app.<\/p>\n
Mat, from Crayford, south east London, told how he is performing in Riyadh in a production of the hit musical Phantom of the Opera.<\/p>\n
He began taking part in the contest after downloading the competition’s app while looking for something to do during the day before his evening shows.<\/p>\n
Mat said: ‘It doesn’t make it any easier being in Riyadh. You can play anywhere in the world but I’m only playing for three hours a day and discovering stuff that was happening has been part of the experience for me.<\/p>\n
‘I saw the announcement about the Treasure Hunt app. I enjoy doing puzzles and was quite keen to have a go.<\/p>\n
‘I completed the first round in about two and a half hours. There were five or six tasks to complete.<\/p>\n
‘You had to work your way through a maze and there was a bit of sleuthing through social media to get QR codes and find some clues.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Players taking part in the Riyadh Season Treasure hunt have been seeking out hidden clues and cracking codes as they navigate a virtual AR world set around the capital of Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n
‘I was really enjoying it and I didn’t feel like I was putting in a lot of time and effort.<\/p>\n
‘The puzzles are definitely getting more difficult as you go through the competition but that’s part of the challenge.<\/p>\n
‘You can join in at any time and now that I’ve won everyone I know is just addicted to this app.’<\/p>\n
Mat told how he hasn’t yet decided how to spend his windfall but said his wife Sara, a fellow performer who is working on a cruise ship, may have some ideas of her own.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘Her response was ‘What are we going to spend that on then?’. ‘She was very excited. It’s great. We’ll see what happens when I get home.<\/p>\n
‘I’m definitely going to enjoy the rest of my time while I’m out in Riyadh.’<\/p>\n
Mat, took up the bass aged 13 and went on to study at the Royal College of Music and Trinity College in London before graduating in 2003.<\/p>\n
He has performed in a number of West End musicals including a production of 9 to 5 starring American actor David Hasselhoff.<\/p>\n
Mat travelled out to Saudi Arabia in October for the production at the Riyadh Arena.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘It’s the first time Phantom has ever been played in Saudi Arabia and it’s the first time I’ve been here.<\/p>\n
‘I don’t really know what I was expecting when we were coming out here but it’s been brilliant. The show has been incredibly well received and the audiences that have come have really enjoyed it.’<\/p>\n
The production features as part of this year’s Riyadh Season, a massive winter festival which takes place across 12 zones.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Riyadh season – a festival packed with concerts, art, culture and multiple sports which runs well into the New Year all across the Saudi capital – saw Tyson Fury fight\u00a0Francis Ngannou fought Tyson Fury as part of<\/p>\n
The festival is hosting a star-studded series of entertainment and cultural events including concerts, sporting contests and exhibitions.<\/p>\n
The Treasure Hunt, which is also one of the highlights of the festival, sees players compete online using their smartphones over eight rounds and a digital finale.<\/p>\n
Those that progress will have an opportunity to qualify for the live Grand Final.<\/p>\n
In January, 10 finalists will fly out to Saudi Arabia where ‘one final test of skill, logic and determination’ awaits them – before one winner emerges victorious.<\/p>\n
And Mat told how he is hoping to be among them.<\/p>\n
He said: ‘I’m working my way through the puzzles. I’m now on the fourth round so I’m hoping to go all the way – that would be incredible.’<\/p>\n
Organisers said: ‘The various stages involved in the Treasure Hunt combine virtual and actual reality, setting participants a range of challenges to overcome, which involve finding clues, solving puzzles and testing knowledge.<\/p>\n
‘Whether you’re aiming for the grand prize or simply looking to enjoy the journey, this unique competition offers something for everyone.’<\/p>\n