Almost Everyone's First Wargame
...
Only 14 entrants competed for the Risk title - down
more than half from last year's debut. The first heat consisted
of two five-player games and one four-player game. The second
heat consisted of two six-player games. The five winners advanced
to the final. The runner-up from the two six-player games, with
the most elimination's advanced next. It was a tie with Bill
Place and Craig Melton with one elimination each. The tie went
to Bill Place since Bill finished in second place and Craig finished
third in their first games. Craig Melton was the first alternate
for the final. Preliminary winner Paul Steen was a no show for
the final so Craig was in also.
After the first round of play, John Rinko had one large troop
in Afghanistan and one in Great Britain with no continent being
held. Bill O'Neal took South America, Matthew Mason took Africa
and made a truce with Bill on the Brazilian and North African
ocean connection. Alan Hayes moved forces towards a takeover
of North America. Bill Place held no continent and
had one large force in China. Craig Melton took over Australia.
By the third round, Matthew Mason broke his treaty with Bill
and conquered Brazil from North Africa. Matt continued to negotiate
another treaty with Bill, after his successful attack on Brazil.
John Rinko continues to make small attacks and maneuvers in Europe.
Bill Place continues to grow his one large army by moving around
in Eastern Asia. Alan Hayes reinforces several of his North American
positions. Craig Melton moves a small force from Indonesia to
Siam and takes extra losses in battle.
Bill O'Neal recaptures Brazil in round 4. John Rinko holds
most of Europe through Round 6. John is the first to turn in
a
set of cards and he uses his four armies to reinforce Europe.
O'Neal turns in a matched set of cards for six armies. Bill places
them all in North America, but he decides to not eliminate Alan
Hayes from the game. ( I don't know if he was being nice, or
if he was afraid of spreading himself out too much.) Matthew
Mason turns in a match set with a Joker (complaining bitterly
about it), to receive eight armies. Matt moves in to take Brazil
from O'Neal again. (Ouch.) Matt is successful, but he takes extra
losses in battle. Alan Hayes turns in cards for ten armies and
he places them with his one lone standing army in Northern Europe.
Alan attacks Matt in North Africa, and proceeds on to take all
of South America from O'Neal. ( See what happens to nice guys)
Alan is left with four troops guarding South America. Bill Place
turns in cards for twelve armies. Bill places them with his one
large force which moves to Kamchatka and stops there (officially
becoming the blue hoard). Craig turns in cards for 15 armies,
which he places in Siam, discusses a treaty with Bill Place,
and moves three armies into India.
In round 7, John continues to spread throughout Europe. Matt
tries to negotiate with John to move forces to the Middle East,
so Matt would be protected from an attack from Craig. John did
not fall for it. O'Neal fortifies his position in the Eastern
United States. Matt turns in a set for 20 armies. Matt recaptures
North Africa and negotiates with Alan and O'Neal. He makes a
treaty with Alan on the Brazilian-North African ocean connection.
Alan turns in cards for 25 armies and fortifies Venezuela while
moving to Central America, eliminating O'Neal from the game.
Alan gets the three cards O'Neal still has in his hand. Bill
Place turns in cards for 30 armies and places them in Kamchatka.
He takes one space and the blue hoard gets bigger. Craig does
not turn in cards and takes one space in South East Asia.
In round 8, John turns in cards for 35 armies and places them
in Scandinavia and reinforces several positions in Europe and
the Middle East. Matt tries to negotiate with John and takes
Southern Europe. Alan turns in cards for 40 armies and adds them
to a large force already in Quebec. Alan plows through Greenland
and Iceland with no problem. Alan has incredibly good dice and
eliminates John from the game. Alan gains two cards from John
and he ends his turn very spread out through Europe and North
America. Bill Place, the Blue Hoard, moves to Siberia, and makes
no attempts to threaten Alan. Craig takes India and also makes
no attempt to threaten Alan. (Be nice to Alan, he has already
eliminated two people from game. After all, look what happened
to Bill O'Neal after he was nice to Alan.)
In round 9, Matt breaks another treaty with the Brazilians.
Although this time, Alan is the target. Alan turns in a set for
45 armies, which he places in the Ukraine and eliminates Matt
from the game. (Ah, sweet revenge.) Alan gets Matt's three cards.
Alan now has a total of six cards in his hand and has eliminated
three people from the game. (Wow. It is
too bad he was doing so well, you know, his luck is about to
run out.) The Blue Hoard, Bill Place, finally decides to do some
major attacking. Bill goes after Alan of coarse. Bill enjoys
phenomenal rolling with his well rested troops and debates as
to whether or not he should finish Alan off after taking Europe
and North America. Bill decides to continue onto South America
and Africa - taking Alan out of the game. Bill Place started
with only 60 armies vs 35 of Alan's in one territory plus having
to clear and cover all of Europe, North America, South America
and Africa. Absolutely astounding!! Bill collects the six cards
from Alan and has to turn in immediately for 50 armies. He decides
that he has to try to take Craig out of the game now. Craig has
five cards, and will be trading in the cards for 55 armies on
his turn, if Bill does not eliminate him first. He places the
50 armies in China to attack Craig who is still holding Australia.
Bill's incredible die rolling comes to an end and he decides
to stop the attack on Siam with nine armies left to Craig's 15.
Craig places all 55 armies in Japan, which had only two other
armies there. He blows through Asia, Europe, North America, South
America, and Africa without much resistance. The final large
battle took place in India with Craig having 30 armies to Bill
Place's ten. Craig wins with plenty to spare.
Due to the low turnout, Risk does not qualify as a
century event for WBC 2001. I plan to run tit as a trial event
next year and will run three scheduled Swiss Elimination heats
in an effort to ensure that Risk will return to the Century
in 2002.
Those interested in a dedicated weekend of RISK play
should check out the official RISK championships at http://www.risktoc.org
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