John Tighe Sr, Ken Richards, Jay Kelbey and Kelly Krieble dabble in real estate.	Anthony Musella, Barrington Beavis, Steve Packwood and Chanen Rothenberg buy hotels.
Phil Becker, Justin Childs and Matt Calkins consider their options. Childs was a three-time champ returning to WBC for the first time since it was Avaloncon.	John Tighe Jr looks pleased with his board position as 2007 champ Jason Ley checks with his accountants before making his next move. Neither would advance.

Last to Merge ...

I have to start by saying 'Thank You' to all the Acquire participants because I can't say that I run the tournament. More like, I give it a push and the tournament runs itself. People help one another learn the game. There's no arguing (at least none I've ever heard). For the most part, people are just happy to have a venue and opponents without going through the obligatory "what will we play next" discussion with their usual group. This year, I introduced a "Speed Game" sign for players that appreciate quick play and/or had a need to finish A.S.A.P. Four such games were arranged without any problems. Joshua Cooper (our defending champion) had a conflict due to GM'ing Agricola. Three players volunteered to meet Josh in the main ballroom to facilitate his GM obligations, enthusiastic to take on the reigning champion challenge.

In all, 77 obliging players played 28 preliminary games in three heats. The lowest winning score was $36,700; the highest $68,700, and the closest win: $400. The prevalent opinion is that the winner has to participate in the first merger. That sentiment was again strongly confirmed by the results. 16 preliminary game winners had (or tied for) the majority position in the first merger, with four winners taking the minority position, and only eight denied part of the first merger. This contrasted completely with the playoffs where only one winner had majority position, one had minority and three (including the champion!) were not involved in the first merger.

The semifinals struggled to find 16 qualifiers among the 28 winners able to advance, thus allowing 2006 champion Matt Calkins an alternate berth with a single runner-up finish. Matt made the most of it by winning his semifinal to join Ken Richards, Ray Stakenas and Joshua Cooper (trying for his third straight Acquire title) in the Final. Josh, Matt and Ray started the first six hotel chains. Ken finally started his first (the last chain) on Turn 4. All four finalists bought a centralized Imperial incessantly. Although Ray had majority in a 7-6-6-6 stock distribution, he couldn't get a merge tile. More important was the unproductive money tied up in stock that hurt everyone. On Turn 6, Matt and Ray turned the first merger. On Turn 8, Ray and Matt enjoyed the second merger. Josh and Ken generated some money in future mergers but Ray and Matt were well in the lead. The two leaders, flush with cash, competed against one another buying whatever they wanted and focusing on their only perceived rival.

Big mistake. Josh and Ken each locked in a majority in a chain of their own. Ken's investing proved the wiser choice as he took majority share in the game-ending chain. It was enough to win his first WBC title with a narrow 47,200 - 46,400 - 45,900 triumph. Although Josh finished fourth in his bid for a third straight Acquire title, he was only one tile short of that goal.

Anne Norton, Romain Jacques and Francois de Bellefeville look for vacancies during the second heat in one of the 28 qualifying preliminary games.	GM Cliff Ackman oversees his finalists. Although defending champ Joshua Cooper made the Final for the third straight year, he finished fourth.