THE BEST brains in the country descended on Manchester to pit their wits against each other with the launch of the cleverest of board games.

Around 300 members of Mensa, the society for people with high IQs, gathered at the Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel for their annual convention.

The event, which runs until tomorrow , includes a trip to the People's History Museum, a visit to the Urbis centre and a tour of Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.

But the main attraction was the launch last night of Mensa's first ever play-at-home board game.

Mensa Connections combines "the simplicity of dominoes with the tactical approach of chess" and has been designed for people of all ages.

Glenys Hopkins, from Culceth, Warrington, a semi-finalist on BBC's Mastermind and Mensa board member, said: "I don't play board games much, but this is really enjoyable.It's simple to play, but to play well requires a bit of strategy."

Sylvia Herbert, chairman of British Mensa, who was presiding at today's AGM, said: "Mensa has been to Manchester a number of times in the past, but this year is a little bit different because we have now launched our very first board game.

Mensa membership is open to anyone with an IQ score measured in the top two per cent of the population.