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Updated 11/23/2010

2010 WBC Report    

 2011 Status: pending 2011 GM commitment

James Pei, VA

2009-10 Champion

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Event History
1999    James Pei     22
2000    Trevor Bender     21
2001    James Pei     22
2002    James Pei     29
2003    James Pei     32
2004    James Pei     35
2005    James Pei     24
2006    James Pei     27
2007    James Pei     30
2008    Riku Reikkinen     32
2009    James Pei     18
2010    James Pei     24

PBeM Event History
1999    James Pei     24
2002    Stefan Mecay     46

WAM Event History
2003    James Pei      8
2004     James Pei     12
2005    James Pei     17
2006    James Pei     11
 Laurels

Rank  Name              From  Last  Total
  1.  James Pei          VA    10    556
  2.  David Dockter      MN    10    186
  3.  Mark Giddings      NY    08    127
  4.  Riku Reikkinen     fn    09     68
  5.  Trevor Bender      CA    03     62
  6.  Stefan Mecay       TX    02     60
  7.  Mike Mitchell      GA    10     59
  8.  Nicholas Pei       CA    10     56
  9.  Tim Miller         GA    07     52
 10.  Chris Byrd         CT    08     39
 11.  Baron August       PA    02     36
 12.  Peter Reese        VA    04     28
 13.  Tom Thornsen       NY    10     25
 14.  Rob Winslow        NY    05     21
 15.  Dan Hoffman        NC    02     19
 16.  Bob Sohn           PA    09     18
 17.  Hank Burkhalter    GA    02     18
 18.  Doug Whatley       MD    00     18
 19.  Tom Drueding       TX    99     18
 20.  Bill Pettus        NJ    05     16
 21.  Michael Ussery     MD    09     14
 22.  Taylor Golding     on    04     12
 23.  George Young       VT    03     12
 24.  Paul Risner        TN    02     12
 25.  Tim Hughes         uk    02     12
 26.  Bill Thoet         VA    03     10
 27.  Steve Bucey        OH    99      9
 28.  Don Chappell       TX    10      7
 29.  Doug Mercer        MD    05      7
 30.  Kevin McCarthy     OH    99      6
 31.  Keith Butler       CA    03      5
 32.  Henry Russell      PA    06      4
 33.  John Firer         WI    01      4
 34.  Mike Welker        OH    99      3
 35.  Jon Gautier        NY    06      2

2010 Laurelists                                          Repeating Laurelists:

Nicholas Pei, TX
2nd

Dave Dockter, MN
3rd

Tom Thornsen, NY
4th

Michael Mitchell, GA
5th

Don Chapell, TX
6th

Past Winners

James Pei, TX
1999, 2001-07, 2009-10

Trevor Bender, CA
2000

Riku Reikkinen, Finland
2008

Dockter is used to losing to Pei ... but this time he couldn't get past the other Pei in the semi-finals.

Pretty realistic ... truly brother vs brother in the Final as Nick makes his brother sweat but the Master wins again.

Truly Brother vs Brother ...

Once again an experienced field of stalwart gamers entered the fray to see who would play the role of David vs Goliath and take another shot at unseating James Pei. For those with short memories James lost to the Finnish wonder, Riku Riekkinen two years ago, but came back none the worse for the experience, and reversed that outcome last year when he took his ninth title. This time the field decided to fight fire with fire, or, in this case, Pei with Pei.

Unlike earlier years where David Dockter faced his usual 6.28 problem (two times Pei) where he would have to beat Nick Pei (Jame's younger brother) to get at the Master, this year Pei the younger set up a classic brother versus brother confrontation Final so fitting for a game about the American Civil War that it is cliche. Nevertheless, here in his own words, Nick recounts his attempt to deny his older brother his blackbelt in their Final.

As USA, Nick had great cards for an aggressive start. AoP killed the small JJ force and then advanced to Manassas. With the Farragut card, Union burned Columbus, GA. Another AA force landed at Sabine. CSA had an average hand, playing an Indian Ally reinforcement card and placing a few PC markers.

Turn 2: USA drew great cards again. Its force advanced from Columbus and burned Atlanta. Another force threatened to take MO. A Pope-led army was poised to take KY and burn Nashville. The timely play of the Pre-War Treachery card saved Nashville and diverted Pope to Paducah. CSA spent the turn playing a reinforcement card and dislodging the Union force at Sabine.

Turn 3: Fate seemed to begrudge James his tenth title. Nick had another fantastic hand with three 3-Ops and two Campaigns. Richmond was strongly defended, so Union forces were sent elsewhere to grab easy objectives. USA took MO and attacked Selma. It also converted WV and advanced into VA. CSA reacted patiently and conserved its strength. It spent most of its resources on containing the Union enclave in Columbus GA. With his last card, CSA was able to take KY. USA SW hovered around 120, while CSA SW was about 100.

Turn 4: With the arrival of Lee and the CAV leaders, USA started the fortification process in the East. Lee promptly formed an army and pushed Union forces back to Manassas. Pope tried to convert AR, but was blocked by a Smith-led corps. Little Rock and Memphis both fell. The Union played a discarder which fished out a Rebel Campaign card, just as Lee was poised to lunge north. Instead, JJ with a Cav was detached to the Lynchburg area to cover the flanks.

Turn 5: James formed another army under Jackson. Together, the two CSA armies maneuvered in tandem to threaten DC. The fortification process was incomplete and too late to slow down the CSA attacks. With two Campaign cards, CSA broke through the WVa line into Pittsburgh. Pleasanton failed the critical 4/6 interception into a fortified Pittsburg to stop the Rebels from raiding into Harrisburg-Philly to cut off DC. James took advantage of the deadly combo of Lee-Jackson in Turn 5 and two CC to cut off DC and forced an early USA surrender.

Such a promising start to end in a sudden reversal of fortune. Well, they don't call him the Master for nothing.

 GM      Mark Herman  [8th Year]   NA
    NA    NA

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