The event expanded on a triple-digit debut so Race For the Galaxy appears to be no flash in the pan.	Can they make this type any smaller? These card games are hard on the bifocal set, eh Rich?

There is no denying that winning Race for the Galaxy players are consistent, as seven of the16 semi-finalists from 2008 returned to the semis again this year. But with a 40% increase in participation over the previous year (139 players) two wins were not a guarantee to advance. Six players notched three wins in four heats and another 14 won two. However,, none of those triple winners would advance to the Final.

In the first semi to finish, Scott Anthony knocked out three of the returning semi-finalists, including the 2008 Euroquest champion, winning by military strength with Epsilon Eridani. In the second semi finished, Don Sutherland also advanced by military with New Sparta complemented by significant development points. David Finberg had not planned to participate in the semis, but had a last minute change of plans; he advanced in the third game with New Sparta, but on the strength of Galactic Federation and Pan Galactic League rather than military strength. The fourth game was dominated by relentless produce/consume actions. When the space debris cleared it was defending champ Robert Renaud who won the closest semi with Earth's Lost Colony boosted by Diversified Economy.

Robert Renaud's group of New York friends, aka 'the Google Gang', were a strong presence in the tournament. Their exact number is not known, but at least five of them went 10 for 17 in the games they played. Where they made the greatest impact however was at the seeding of the semi-final tables. Two of Robert's Gang qualified ahead of him but opted not to advance. This allowed him to advance in his 'team game', single-handedly putting his team in 13th place in that competition while bringing forth the spectre of co-operative team play moreso than is the norm at WBC.

The Google Gang also made an instant crowd/audience/cheering section for the Final table. Many pictures were taken. Early in the Final it appeared that Donald was pulling ahead, settling several colonies from New Sparta, but in the end Robert had enough consume points to pull off a seemingly unlikely repeat win.

Wins by starting world in the event overall were clustered abnormally. While wins in 2008 supported the prevailing wisdom that higher numbered start worlds are somewhat favored, the 2009 distribution was: Old Earth - 10, Epsilon Eridani - 15, Alpha Centauri - 22, New Sparta -16, Earth's Lost Colony -7. In the preliminary heats players were allowed to choose either the base game or expansions, 14 games were contested with the latter. Only three of the 11 home worlds failed to register at least one win in expansion games; even in these games Alpha Centauri dominated.

The highest single game score was 78, turned in by Lyman Moquin with Alpha Centauri. In games played with expansion decks Alan Stern actually lost with a score of 65, second to Robert Renaud's 80 with Rebel Cantina.