A young girl accidentally toppled a massive tower constructed from 63,000 beer mats during a playful Jenga-style game, ending an ambitious Guinness World Record attempt.
The Ambitious Build
Benjamin Klapper, a 49-year-old media engineer from Pulheim, Germany, spent 28 days crafting the towering structure in the Rhein-Center shopping center in Cologne. Each level required about four hours, totaling around 120 hours of work from October 31 to December 8. The goal was to surpass the existing record of 70,000 beer mats stacked to a height of 9.8 feet (3 meters).
However, the sculpture partially collapsed under its own weight just two days before completion, without any apparent external interference. Klapper submitted the project to Guinness World Records as an official attempt but acknowledged the structural challenges.
The Jenga Game and Viral Moment
On January 10, Klapper invited helpers to engage with the remaining structure through a game called Beer Mat Jenga, where participants took turns removing mats until the tower fell. The daughter of one helper emerged as the winner on her first try by pulling a horizontally placed mat, causing the entire “ruins” to crumble.
Klapper holds no grudge against the girl, noting the instability that led to the earlier partial collapse. Videos and livestreams of the construction, demolition, and game have amassed millions of views across social media platforms.
Klapper’s Artistic Journey
Klapper, who operates MuVi 3D GmbH, began creating beer mat sculptures as a child, gradually scaling up his projects. His first major work dates back 33 years, and he constructs these large-scale pieces periodically in public spaces. This approach allows onlookers to observe the entire creative process, from inception to completion, fostering greater engagement with the art.
