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Liar's Dice (LID) WBC 2016 Report
Updated Nov. 25, 2016 Icon Key
228 Players Noah Engelmann, MD 2016 Status 2017 Status Event History
  2016 Champion      
 

Purging the Plaque King

The 14th year of Liar's Dice at WBC remained a raucous crowd pleaser. 228 crazed liars filled the ballroom for the traditional Friday night closer and those that stayed to the end witnessed an especially happy fairytale ending as youth had its day. The festivities started off with the tradition of a massed cup shake and smash to the tables orchestrated by yours truly with a much appreciated microphone.

37 accomplished fibbers survived the opening round only to face a sterner test in the semifinals which would thin the herd to the best six fabricators of the evening. The Final consisted of Bruce Reiff (he of the many plaques), Nick Henning (the Caesar in waiting of the next generation), Nathan Heiss, young Noah Engelmann, Sam Wolff (a 9-year-old kid who had been playing and holding his own in numerous adult events all week long), and Rob Kircher (BPA’s 13th ranked career laurelist). This meant that there were six new finalists with greatly diverse resumes and it also meant that we would have our 14th different champion in as many years.

With three of the top 13 BPA laurelists meeting in an event none had won previously, expectations were high for intense play.  Bruce, still without wood with the week drawing to a close, started the bidding. It stopped with twelve 6's by Noah and young Sam’s call cost Noah two dice and put him in an early hole. Bystanders took it as an expected outcome. What chance would these youngsters have against such accomplished players? On the other hand, the kid made it clear from the first bid that he wasn't going to be intimidated by the champions at the table.

Nathan lost the next die on a bid of seven stars to Noah’s call. Again, one of the younger players had been forced to risk a loss. The odds on the three pros kept going up. But the 2014 Consul’s bid of 12 5's cost Nick two dice when Nathan called and he now found himself in the same hole as Noah. Sam’s bid of ten 5’s was called by Rob, revealing the game’s first exactor. Everyone but the youngster lost a die and the third grader was now in the lead! Bruce made a snide comment about this state of affairs and was dubbed “The Grinch” by Sam as trash talking reached the elementary school. A rivalry was developing between the legend and the kid. This was getting good!

Bruce decided to take things into his own hands and bid seven stars. Nick’s call cost him his last two dice and Bruce smiled as he ushered the superstar to the cheap seats in sixth place. Rob’s relief at the loss of one of his toughest opponents was short-lived. His bid of seven 6's was short a pair as Bruce relegated him to the same hole as Noah. Rob’s next bid of seven 5’s got the Grinch’s attention and he called him again. This time there were only four showing so Rob was out of the game. Bruce had eliminated both of his most likely challengers and was literally looking like a man among boys.

Noah’s bid of 4-stars resulted in the game’s second exactor and everyone but Noah lost a die. With Rob out, Bruce and Sam were now adjacent. Not intimidated by the Grinch, Sam made a bid of four 5's. Bruce’s call cost him a die. At this point the 9-year-old had four dice while the other three guys had two each. Could the kid do it? The anticipation was building.

Sam lost half of his lead on a bid of four 4's to Bruce’s challenge. He then lost the remainder of his lead on a bid of 2-stars to another Bruce call. The game was now tied at 2-all.

Sam then lost his third die in a row by calling Noah’s three 6’s. Down to his last die, the crowd favorite was on the ropes but insisted that he was still in it to win it. Sam’s subsequent bid of 4-2's elicited a laugh from Bruce, but it revealed the game’s third exactor, and Sam’s second. This retied the game at one die apiece. Every call now would evict a player.

Nathan was the first man out on Bruce’s bid of two 6’s. The next round was one for the ages! Bruce started the bidding with one 4. Noah then raised the bid to two 4's. Noah tried to get Sam to call, but Sam told him that the game is called "liars" dice for a reason. Sam then explained that he had a 4 as well. Sam then pondered his decision and instead of calling Noah he bid three 4’s! This got the crowd into a frenzy as Bruce called him while saying "if you have it, you have it". The cups were raised showing three 4’s and the crowd erupted! Bruce was out and all of the big guns had been beaten.

Were we looking at the youngest Centurion yet? Sam had to win one more bid. He opened the bid with one 4. Noah’s riposte of one 6 left him with no choice but to call. Noah had the 6 and the title, but Sam had eliminated the plaque king and prevented him from scratching his itch in 2016!

ADD TO JUNIORS PORTION AT PAGE BOTTOM

19 juniors descended on the Fox Den early Monday morning to compete in the first junior event of 2016. While some struggled at the table to pick up on the key concepts of bluffing and most were challenged to figure out the expected value of any particular number, the kids did the best they could and we had a number of very interesting games.

The theme of the first round seemed to be sibling rivalry as random table assignments put the Freemans, the Silverbergs, and the McNallys at tables with their sibling. In the end, Andrew Freeman outlasted brother Alex and the McNallys. Andrew Martin slayed the Silverbergs, and Aaron Kaltman took out a strong field to reach the Final table. At the last of the first round tables, 7-year old Elizabeth Shea masterfully owned a table of accomplished 11- and 12-year olds to claim the final spot.

At the final table Elizabeth’s run of luck seemed to be continuing as Aaron’s aggressive challenge knocked him out of the competition and Andrew Martin’s bad luck on a couple challenges of his own left Elizabeth facing Andrew Freeman for the title. Elizabeth held four dice to Andrew’s one, but she seemed to misunderstand the value of stars. Andrew threw out a few light bids and Elizabeth lost a couple of challenges leaving both with one die each. Andrew bid again and Elizabeth made an ill-advised challenge which gave Andrew the title.

Andrew Martin finished third, Aaron Kaltman fourth, Alex Freeman fifth and Armelle Worrel sixth.

 
2016 Laurelists Repeating Laurelists: 0
Sam Wolff, VA Bruce Reiff, OH Nathan Heiss, WA Rob Kircher, RI Nick Henning, DC
2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
 
Mark Love, Aidan Powers and Patrick Shea practice their fibs. Lotsa liars fill the ballroom.
Would you buy a used car from any of these people? Robert Voisin,
Greg Thatcher, Nathan Heiss, Andrew Emerick, Randy Buehler and Laurie Voisin.

Liar's Dice Junior 2016

19 juniors descended on the Fox Den early Monday morning to compete in the first junior event of 2016. While some struggled at the table to pick up on the key concepts of bluffing and most were challenged to figure out the expected value of any particular number, the kids did the best they could, and we had a number of very interesting games.

The theme of the first round seemed to be sibling rivalry as random table assignments put the Freemans, the Silverbergs, and the McNallys at tables with their sibling. In the end, Andrew Freeman outlasted brother Alex and the McNallys. Andrew Martin slayed the Silverbergs, and Aaron Kaltman took out a strong field to reach the Final table. At the last of the first round tables, 7-year old Elizabeth Shea masterfully owned a table of accomplished 11- and 12-year olds to claim the final spot.

At the final table Elizabeth’s run of luck seemed to be continuing as Aaron’s aggressive challenge knocked him out of the competition and Andrew Martin’s bad luck on a couple challenges of his own left Elizabeth facing Andrew Freeman for the title. Elizabeth held four dice to Andrew’s one, but she seemed to misunderstand the value of stars. Andrew threw out a few light bids and Elizabeth lost a couple of challenges leaving both with one die each. Andrew bid again and Elizabeth made an ill-advised challenge which gave Andrew the title.

Andrew Martin finished third, Aaron Kaltman fourth, Alex Freeman fifth and Armelle Worrel sixth.

Sara Ward, another northern neighbor from
the Canadian dice lovin' contingent, helps the GM
herd little fibbers through their bluffs.

GM Andrew Drummond, always adorned by appropriate
chapeau, presents Andrew Freeman with yet another
Juniors plaque to add to his burgeoning collection.
 
GM  Jason Levine [14th Year]  NA
 NA  NA