Dice in the Pacific
CHARACTERS
OF MY OWN CALIBER!
My wife has us pegged correctly. Heavy on the character part,
light on the definitions. Each of us eccentric in our own way.
Each of us accepting of each other, and eager to call each other
friends. This is what our hobby has come to mean to me. Friendship,
camaraderie, and an appreciation of each other "just the
way we are". Yet, we are not a closed group or a clique.
We eagerly welcome new friends and faces.
Three or four times this year we paused between rounds for
personal announcements which were usually met with rounds of
applause, congratulations, or appropriate regrets.
Keith Ericksen managed to repossess the "VITP Great Guy"
award that had been presented to me at the Midwest Open in March.
He passed it around again and collected more signatures on the
back. THIS is THE ONE that hangs over my desk as I type this.
48
players registered. 104 games actually played. 11 new players.
16 games went seven turns. 26 games went a full eight turns!
16 players stuck it out for all seven rounds. Bidding reached
six POC.
This was the first time that any optional rules have been
allowed in any competition that I have run. Before the first
round, players had to note on their player records if they were
willing to negotiate for options. By saying no at that point,
all discussion was ended for the tournament, they could not be
pressured. On the other hand, anyone who said yes was free to
negotiate every round with any opponent who also said yes. This
seems to answer every objection, and I expect to use it as future
policy. Thanks to the players who thought it up and suggested
it.
While Dan Henry took the Championship with an undisputed 7-0
record, the next four places all had identical 5-2 records, decided
by the tie-breakers in the scoring system.
Dan Henry, Chicago, Illinois. Our Champion! Dan is not one
to lick his wounds, nor rest on his laurels. A past Champion
of both AvalonCon and Midwest Open, last year he placed second
at WBC on tiebreaker points requiring two recounts. He came back
this year like gangbusters with seven clear wins! All seven against
players with the toughest of reputations including five past
champions! Dan's player record is a who's who on the Victory
In The Pacific circuit. This well-earned plaque will be take
its place among Dan's collection.
No messing around this year. Dan was willing to play the Allies,
but for a price. He wanted the options, and was eager to run
the bid up as high as six POC! Five USN wins. Two IJN wins. No
losses.
John Pack, Sandy, Utah. Second Place. John has always played
with the best, and held his own. Contending for the brass ring
is a way of life. Two USN wins. Three IJN wins. One USN loss.
One IJN loss.
Alan Applebaum, Brookline, Massachusetts. Third Place. Alan
is more used to Championship plaques. He will be back. Trust
me. Two USN wins. Three IJN wins. One USN loss. One IJN loss.
Andy Gardner, Fairfax, Virginia. Fourth Place. Last year's
Champion. Round 7 gave Andy his rematch with Dan from last year.
If he had pulled it out, we would have been back to recounting
the scores for that tie-breaker again. Two USN wins. Three IJN
wins. Two IJN losses.
Mike Kaye, San Pedro, California. Fifth Place. Just wait until
next year! Two USN wins. Three IJN wins. One USN loss. One IJN
loss.
Jim Eliason, Valley Cottage, New York. Sixth Place. Jim has
been playing with us for some time, but this is his first time
to walk away with wood. He has been studying, and learning his
lessons well. Four IJN wins. One USN loss. Two IJN losses.
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