risk [Updated August 2000]

RSK    
 
    13   16
     

   Maryland 4

Craig Melton, VA

2000 Champion

2nd: Bill Place, PA

3rd: Alan Hayes, IL

4th: Matt Mason, MD

 5th: John Rinko, MD

 6th: Bill O'Neal, NY
Event History
1991    None      -
1992    None      -
1993    None      -
1994    None      -
1995    None      -
1996    None      -
1997    None      -
1998    None      -
1999    Robert Lightburn     30
2000    Craig Melton     14
AREA Ratings
 1    David Large      1718
 2    William Todd      1626
 3    Robert Lightburn      1560
 4    Mark Brewer      1541
 5    Adam Coleman      1536
 6    Allen Epps      1532
 7    Rob Hassard      1529
 8    Dan Pasaric      1529
 9    Marion Hazel      1528
10    Carl Olson      1528

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

 GM      Keith Levy  [2nd Year]   9 Augusta Wood Court, Reisterstown, MD 21136
    gamesofmd@aol.com   (410) 833-4395

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