|
|
Andrew Murphy (left) defeats Chris
Kamm in opening round action. |
Doug Bailor (left) versus John Panagotopulous
in Round 2. |
A New Champ is Crowned ...
Day 1
The12 games played in the first round included five former
champs, some promising newcomers, and even the GM jumping in
to even out the field. While a few of the games eventually
stretched out into runaways, most were tight affairs that set
the scene for the more interesting matches to follow.
One new player joined 19 continuing holdovers for the second
round carnage. Defending champ Kevin Keller fought
back to even his at record 1-1 after a close first round loss,
while the 2007 champ Ty Hansen dropped to 1-1 after also losing
a tight game to the same newcomer, Brad Tumey. Meanwhile,
two-time champ Phil Shea (and his little helper) looked like
he hadn't missed a beat, even though he didn't play last year,
by cruising to his second dominating win.
Andrew Murphy, also returning after a one-year sabbatical, positioned
himself well for advancement by winning his two games in commanding
fashion. He was joined in the undefeated ranks by
2006 champ Joe Powell, and a couple of new contenders - Doug
Bailor and Konrad Bergandy.
The third round was highlighted by the titanic struggles of the
ubeaten's and the battles for survival of the 1-1's. With
only four players advancing to the SE rounds of Day 2, the fight
was on to either stay undefeated or to come out of the third
round with a good 2-1 record. Three 3-0's were guaranteed
to make it, but the final slot would go to the top 2-1 player
determined first by the Total Victory Territories amassed, and
(if needed) by the Greatest IPC Percentage Increase from the
three games.
Ty Hansen and Doug Bailor finished tied with 49 TVTs. Phil
Shea had a chance in the last game to also make it into the 49
TVTs mix, but could only hold 10 VTs in his third round loss,
ending his day with 48 TVTs. Interestingly, this third round
loss came at the hands of the "Champ Slayer" Brad Turney.
The tie between Ty and Doug was resolved using the IPC Percentage
Increase figures. Ty's 84.58% narrowly won against
Doug's 82.32%. So while taking VTs is a players' first
priority in winning a game, never forget that the IPCs also play
a role in ones chances to advance.
So at the end of a long day of qualifying play, the SE field
was set for Day 2. The first game featured top seed
Andrew Murphy against fourth seed Ty Hansen. The other
contest pitted Brad Tumey vversus Joe Powell.
The following chart is the player rankings based on the games
from the first day's preliminary rounds.
Final Player Rankings-
Player
Rank |
Won-Loss |
TVTs |
IPC
% |
1. Andrew Murphy |
3-0 |
46 |
64.28571 |
2. Brad Turney |
3-0 |
39 |
17.70833 |
3. Joseph Powell |
3-0 |
39 |
8.571429 |
4. Ty Hansen |
2-1 |
49 |
84.58333 |
5. Doug Bailor |
2-1 |
49 |
82.32143 |
6. Philip Shea |
2-1 |
48 |
87.14286 |
7. Kevin Keller |
2-1 |
44 |
28.03571 |
8. Pat Mirk |
2-1 |
43 |
14.40476 |
9. Konrad Bergandy |
2-1 |
41 |
19.64286 |
10. Alan Murphy |
1-2 |
31 |
20.44643 |
11. Chris Kamm |
1-2 |
27 |
-55.2381 |
12. Michael Reiner |
1-2 |
25 |
-56.45833 |
13. Todd Treadway |
1-1 |
30 |
31.25 |
14. Carl Curry |
1-1 |
25 |
-31.42857 |
15. John Panagotopulos |
1-1 |
17 |
-29.67262 |
16. Marc Murphy |
0-2 |
17 |
-33.33333 |
17. Dan Pasaric |
0-2 |
16 |
-40.625 |
18. Drew Portocarrero |
0-2 |
16 |
-57.05357 |
19. Eric Zielinski |
0-2 |
12 |
-70.3869 |
20. Craig Moffitt |
1-0 |
17 |
30.20833 |
21. Craig Yope |
0-1 |
11 |
7.142857 |
22. Joe Collinson |
0-1 |
10 |
-5.208333 |
23. Michael Corrigan |
0-1 |
10 |
-12.85714 |
24. Joseph Alfred |
0-1 |
5 |
-27.08333 |
25. Colum McCurdy |
0-1 |
5 |
-42.85714 |
On the first day of the tournament, during each round, I draw
names of event participants to receive doorprizes donated by
the GM, the Table Tactics game company, and Field Marshall Games
(FMG). Below are the recipients for this year:
Promotional Prizes-
#1- #2- #3-
A&A Bulge- A&A
Bulge- A&A
Bulge-
Todd Treadway Konrad
Bergandy Doug
Bailor
Table Tactics- Table
Tactics- Table
Tactics-
Brad Tumey Marc
Murphy Michael
Reiner
FMG Combat Dice- FMG
Combat Dice- FMG
Combat Dice-
Carl Curry Pat
Mirk Philip
Shea
Day 2-
SF #1-
Brad actually gave Joe a bid of Axis (+3), which Joe jumped
all over. Joe places a Japanese infantry on Borneo.
R1- The Soviets boldly launch the triple attack of Eastern
Europe, West Russia, and Ukraine SSR. Unfortunately,
it goes poorly for them. USSR consolidates its forces
and places new units, to include a fighter.
G1- Germany's main offensive action is to take Egypt. Joe
adds a Baltic CV to the Kriegsmarine.
UK1- The British amphib Algeria and put in a defensive unit purchase
into the Home Isles in response to German naval builds.
J1- Attacks Pearl Harbor and China while going in an interesting
direction with its purchases - a CV buy.
US1- The American high command makes a tough decision and shifts
the remaining Pacific fleet to the Atlantic. They
reinforce Algeria and build a CV off the US East Coast.
R2- The Soviet air force sends three fighters against the German
navy in SZ 15, sinking those ships at the cost of two planes. USSR
consolidates its forces in the Caucasus.
G2- With the Soviet build up in the south, the Germans move north,
to include taking the Archangel VT. With the destruction
of their Med fleet and the WAs ships sitting in SZ 12, the Germans
buy a DD and two CVs, placing them in SZ 14. Yes, I said
two Aircraft Carriers in the Med!
UK2- The British keep the heat on by amphibing France and retaking
Egypt in part with help of the Indian fleet. Another
interesting buy, in a game of interesting buys, is an IC in South
Africa.
J2- The IJN hits the UK fleet in SZ 34 and ground forces blitz
through Buryatia SSR and the Soviet Far East territories.
US2- Shifts the Algeria units to France to reinforce the UK. It
continues to build ships in the Atlantic for the transport of
troops to Europe.
R3- Finally strong enough after their first round beatings to
take West Russia. They also take back Archangel and
Buryatia SSR.
G3- Pushes the WAs out of France and Blitzes through French Equatorial
Africa to French West Africa.
UK3- Royal air force destroys the lone BB in SZ 35 but fails
in amphibing back into France.
J3- Amphibs the VTs of Hawaii and India.
US3- Hits right back by amphibing the VTs of France and Norway.
R4- Soviet forces take back Karelia and push into Ukraine SSR.
G4- The Afrika Korps shoots back across Africa to take Egypt
and a massive infantry and artillery force sweeps the lone US
armor unit from its toe-hold in France.
UK4- UK armor from Belgian Congo takes back Egypt. A
small force amphibs France in an attempt to whittle down the
Atlantic Wall now building there.
J4- The Hawaiian invasion fleet, after eyeing the US West Coast,
turns south to take the Australian VT while the Indian invasion
fleet takes Egypt successfully.
US4- Another amphib of France. Builds an IC in Norway.
R5- Attacks the Balkans and Eastern Europe and is repelled in
the Balkans by the lone defender. Clears out the single
German unit in Persia and retakes the Soviet Far East. Moves
a stack of infantry into Norway to cover the US IC and reinforces
Sinkiang with more infantry.
G5- Germans once again knock the US out of France.
UK5- Another amphib against France with the idea of reducing
the defender for the US attack.
J5- Combined amphib/land attack against Trans-Jordan and drops
forces into Buryatia SSR. Reinforces India.
US5- The Americans are only able to bring a 2 infantry amphib
against France. US masses transports and troops in
Canada. Builds three bombers in Norway.
R6- Liberates India for the UK. Stays put on the Eastern
Front.
G6- Turning their attention back to the Soviets in Eastern Europe,
they kick them out. They move the Med fleet out to
SZ 12 and vacates France.
UK6- The Royal Navy attacks the German Fleet in SZ 5 in an attempt
to amphib Eastern Europe, but the land units go to the bottom
as part the naval carnage.
J6- Japan makes a combo amphib/land attack on India, amphibs
Alaska, takes Yakut SSR, but is repelled in Sinkiang.
US6- US Atlantic fleet crushes the German fleet in SZ 12. Amphibs
and takes France. Clears the Japanese out of Alaska.
Joe Powell wins the game with 13 VTs to Brad Turney's 11 VTs. The
failed UK amphib attempt on Eastern Europe determined the victor.
If the UK had been able to take that VT the game would then have
been about the Japanese taking the Indian and Sinkiang VTs. If
the Japanese then had been unable to take Sinkiang, the game
would have boiled down to a 12-12 VT tie. At that
point, it would have been all about the IPCs.
The "Champ Slayer" finally ran into a former champion
that he couldn't beat.
Game Score: Axis 13 VTs and 69 IPCs, Allies 11 VTs
and 97 IPCs.
SF #2-
With a more standard bid for the WBC tourney, Andrew took
the Allies plus 4 IPCs. He places one infantry in
Egypt and keeps one IPC for UK. This eventually allows
him to build a CV and an IC in India UK Turn 1.
R1- Attacks Ukraine SSR and West Russia, but only takes West
Russia.
G1- Takes Egypt and West Russia, but falls back on the Eastern
Front for the most part. Places a CV in the Baltic.
UK1- Amphibs Norway, Karelia SSR, and Egypt. Places
a CV in SZ 3 and an IC in India.
J1- Launches Pearl Harbor attack and assaults India. Places
an IC in French Indochina.
US1- Moves the Atlantic fleet to SZ 8 to land reinforcements
in the UK Home Isles. Places a CV in SZ 55 and an
IC in Sinkiang.
R2- Takes West Russia again, does the "human wave"
infantry attack into Manchuria, and liberates India from the
clutches of the Japanese.
G2- The Luftwaffe hits the US fleet in SZ 8 and ground forces
take Egypt again. The Baltic fleet moves out to SZ
7 and ground forces bulk up in Eastern Europe.
UK2- Shoots an armor unit into Belorussia. The Indian
fleet moves to SZ 28. Places a BB in SZ 3 and adds
land units to India.
J2- The Pearl Harbor attack fleet returns home and Japan reinforces
French Indochina.
US2- Flies bomber to China and places another Pacific CV.
R3- The Soviets continue their Asian road trip by moving into
Kwangtung. While they mass land units in West Russia
and Caucasus, their fighters fly to a defensive position in India.
G3- Multiple attacks into Belgian Congo, Italian East Africa,
Rhodesia, and Trans-Jordan. Amphibs Gibraltar and
Norway. Moves the Baltic fleet back into SZ 5.
UK3- Amphibed into Rhodesia and Karelia. Transported
armor to Archangel. Continued to build up in India.
J3- Clears Soviet intruders out of Manchuria and Kwangtung. Positions
the IJN in SZ 61 and SZ 59.
US3- Massive Pacific fleet moves south and takes Solomon Islands. Armor
from Sinkiang blitzes to victory in Manchuria.
R4- Takes Ukraine SSR and Norway. Reinforces China
and moves units into Persia.
G4- Clears out the picket forces from Karelia SSR, Ukraine SSR,
and Belorussia. They send more units to Egypt and
the Baltic fleet moves out to SZ 3 thus bottling up the UK fleet
in SZ 4.
UK4- The UK fleet in SZ 4 comes back into SZ 3 and crushes the
Germans. Aussie transport moves two infantry to the
Solomon Islands while the Indian fleet moves to SZ 30 carrying
one infantry. The build-up in India continues.
J4- Ground forces take back Manchuria and also take China to
stop US armor from shooting through into unguarded rear areas. Most
of the IJN moves to SZ 36 while a blocking transport moves to
SZ 51 to stop the US Pacific fleet from taking Japan.
US4- Based on the positioning of IJN, the Americans decided to
amphib Wake Island and Borneo.
R5- Pushes forward in Ukraine SSR and Karelia SSR. Move
down to liberate Trans-Jordan. Continues to help the
US by sending some armor to Sinkiang.
G5- A large offensive strikes across the length of the Eastern
Front taking Karelia SSR, Ukraine SSR, and Belorussia. Rommel
once again spreads across the Dark continent taking Belgian Congo,
French Equatorial Africa, and Italian East Africa. Germany
backfills reinforcements into Egypt to hold the vital VT.
UK5- The transport in SZ 45 (Solomon Islands) amphibs two infantry
into the Philippines while the Indian fleet takes its one infantry
to amphib the East Indies. The Royal Navy also moves
down to SZ 6 and drops some units into the meat grinder that
is France. More units are built in India.
J5- Japan splits its naval forces and tries to take back the
East Indies amphibiously while simultaneously smashing the US
fleet in SZ 48. Unfortunately, an improper allocation
of resources causes the overkill of the US fleet but the UK fleet
in SZ 37 is able to take the Japanese transports with it to bottom
of the ocean, foiling the plans of Tojo.
US5- The US fleet in SZ 51 (Wake Island) amphibs units into Manchuria
and Kwangtung while armor and air units attacking into China
are lost in a battle of mutual annihilation.
R6- Once again the Soviet hordes sweep into Ukraine SSR. Russian
armor blitzes out of Sinkiang, through China, and into French
Indochina to meet up with their fellow comrades moving forth
from India. After a tough fight, a single armor unit
retreats back to China.
G6- Attacking again on multiple fronts, the Germans take Archangel,
West Russia, Norway, Ukraine SSR, Trans-Jordan, Rhodesia, and
South Africa.
At this point Ty and Andrew called the game based especially
on how the Asian theater was going. The UK was going
to grab the French Indochina VT and the Japanese had no transports
left to take any of the various mainland and island VTs that
were now in Allied hands.
With the win, Andrew had bounced a former champ, but more importantly,
had set up a chance for redemption.
Game Score: Allies 14 VTs and 100 IPCs, Axis 10 VTs and
66 IPCs.
Final-
The Final was thus set as a rematch of the 2006 championship
won by Joe.
Andrew took the Axis with (+2) IPCs. Unlike
other tournaments, where the bid must be used prior to the beginning
of game play on extra units to be placed upon the board, this
event allows the retention of some (or all) of the IPCs for use
during later play. As such, the 2 IPCs Andrew got
as part of the bid aren't wasted.
R1- The Soviet concentrate their attacking forces on
West Russia. They choose to place their builds in
Russia leaving the Caucasus with only one infantry in defense.
G1- SZ 8 sub and air units hit the UK BB in SZ 13 with the loss
of only the sub. Germans amphib Egypt, take the Caucasus
with a small force, and go into Karelia SSR with the bulk of
their Eastern Front power. They place a Baltic CV.
UK1- Amphibs into Algeria and Borneo are successful as it the
DD and fighter attack on the Japanese transport in SZ 59. The
fighter lands in China and the British bomber redeploys to Sinkiang. Another
naval twist is the moving of the SZ 35 CV to SZ 49 blocking the
Japanese from trying to take back Borneo.
J1- Two fighters attack the UK sub and transport in SZ 46. The
sub is able to submerge and the transport shoots down one of
the fighters before being sunk. The sub from SZ 45
along with the CV from SZ 50 kill off the UK transport in SZ
48. BB and CV from SZ 37 take out the UK DD in SZ
59. A large force of land and air units converge on
China while another force amphibs unopposed into Buryatia SSR. With
the extra IPC that was allotted to them as part of the bid, Japan
purchased two transports and an IC, which is placed in Manchuria.
US1- US reinforces the UK in Algeria and two fighters fly to
Australia. The bomber flies to Yakut SSR and the unscathed
Pearl Harbor fleet falls back to SZ 55. US places
an IC in Sinkiang and a CV in SZ 55.
R2- Retakes Caucasus and moves south into Ukraine SSR. Sends
reinforcements to Sinkiang to help cover the US IC.
G2- The Afrika Korps rampages through French West Africa, French
Equatorial Africa, Italian East Africa, Belgian Congo, and Rhodesia. On
the Eastern Front, the southern thrust pushes back into Ukraine
SSR and a "skinny" amphib takes the Caucasus again. To
the north, the German Karelia SSR stack precipitates a major
slugfest against the Soviets in West Russia. Mediocre
results cause the Germans to fall back, licking their wounds. The
Baltic fleet come out to SZ 7 as part of a major air attack on
the combined WAs fleet in SZ 12. While they lost half
of their fighter force in the attack, they sent the whole Allied
fleet to the bottom.
UK2- Land forces from Algeria take Libya and the bomber in Sinkiang
hits the IC in Manchuria. Sub moves from SZ 46 to
SZ 30, but inexplicably the untouched CV in SZ 49 stays put. The
Royal Air Force sends three fighters from the Home Isles to Algeria.
J2- Launches an all-air attack on India against a single infantry. They
killed the infantry, but took a return hit - which was satisfied
with the loss of a bomber! Two BBs, a CV, and the
sub smash the hapless UK CV in SZ 49 and land unit from Buryatia
SSR walks into Soviet Far East. The rest of the IJN
transports land units to French Indochina.
US2- US armor takes back Egypt along with the help of the bomber. Pacific
fleet moves to SZ 63 while more fighters are sent to Australia. Places
an armor build in Sinkiang.
R3- The Soviet stack in West Russia looks to capitalize on the
early fight by whacking the Germans in Karelia SSR and picks
up Belorussia on the way to battle. Retakes the Caucasus
again and reinforces it in the NCM phase. Plus, some
reserve forces are moved from Russia to Novosibirsk.
G3- The Baltic and Med fleets meet in SZ 13 and drop an amphib
force into Algeria to kill the UK fighters. Afrika
Korps grab Egypt and on the Eastern Front, Karelia SSR is captured
again!
UK3- South Africa infantry walks into Rhodesia, Libya units hit
Egypt, and the bomber SBRs the Manchurian IC. The
sub in SZ 30 shifts up to SZ 35.
J3- Two fighters again try to sink the UK sub in SZ 35, but no
luck - it submerges again! IJN are able to finally
take back Borneo while one infantry walks into the vacant India. Grabs
Yakut SSR. A large force now occupies China opposite
the allied forces located in Sinkiang. The CVs return
to SZ 61.
US3- One transport drops two infantry onto Buryatia SSR. Moves
the rest of the Pacific fleet back to the US West Coast and two
fighters back to Hawaii from Australia.
R4- Retakes Yakut SSR and pushes into Ukraine SSR. The
Soviets send a blocking force of three infantry to Persia and
a few more infantry to reinforce Sinkiang.
G4- The see-saw action continues on the Eastern Front with a
large successful attack on Ukraine SSR. A small force
attacks out of Algeria to take back Libya and an amphib takes
the critical Egypt VT.
UK4- The bomber shifts from SBRing the Manchurian IC to making
an attack on the lone Japanese infantry in India. In
the NCM phase, the UK sends two fighters to Moscow. They
then mobilize a CV and two transports in SZ 6.
J4- The stack in China attacks into Sinkiang, but eventually
retreats after both sides are measurably reduced. The
full naval might of Japan gathers in SZ 60.
US4- The Pacific fleet moves south to take the Solomon Islands. The
bomber SBRs the Manchurian IC - when will the Japanese buy an
AA gun? The US gathers a large force of fighters in
Hawaii.
R5- The Soviets push north into Belorussia and Karelia SSR. They
also help out by liberating India. Shift forces back
to Moscow and place their full build there.
G5- Makes a push across the whole Eastern Front taking Karelia
SSR, Belorussia, West Russia, and amphibs Caucasus. Also,
German armor blitzes in behind the Soviets to take Trans-Jordan
and Persia.
UK5- Amphibs Norway and regains Rhodesia. Places another
CV in SZ 6.
J5- Plows into India again. Sends the whole IJN to
SZ 48 in an attempt to limit the US options and give themselves
a better position for a counterattack.
US5- In an interesting twist, the US armor stack in Sinkiang,
along with the bomber, fire back to liberate the Caucasus. The
US Pacific fleet moves forward and goes into the Philippines. Once
again, the fighter force moves down to Australia.
R6- The Soviets hunker down and don't attack. Sends
reinforcements to cover the Novosibirsk VT. Places
another build in Moscow.
G6- The Med fleet comes back for another amphib of the Caucasus
along with taking the Norway and Archangel VTs. The
Luftwaffe masses for an attack on the UK navy in SZ 6. It
proceeds to take out both transports, but at a terrible price
- four fighters and two bombers. Non-coms two subs
and a DD to SZ 7.
UK6- Sends four fighters to take care of the pesky German presence
in SZ 7. They destroy one sub and a DD, but the other
sub submerges. Places three transport in SZ 6 to replace
the ones lost to German air earlier.
J6- Makes a Banzai attack upon Sinkiang with their China armor
stack falling just short of taking it. Marches across
the frozen wastes to seize Novosibirsk. The mother
of all naval battles transpires in SZ 49 with the IJN clearing
out the US fleet and then amphibs successfully back into the
Philippines.
US6- The marauding US armor (with bomber help) blitzes back into
Novosibirsk and liberates that VT.
The grind of two straight days of play seemed to weigh heavily
upon Joe the longer the game wore on. From missed
moves to questionable choices, the mistakes started to add up. Eventually,
Andrew was able to comfortably burn assets to lessen Joe's ability
keep the pressure on and take needed VTs.
Game Score: Axis 16 VTs and 93 IPCs, Allies
8 VTs and 73 IPCs.
Tournament Stats-
Tournament
Stats |
Axis Wins |
Allied Wins |
Round 1 |
7 (0) |
5 (0) |
Round 2 |
5 (2) |
5 (0) |
Round 3 |
2 (0) |
4 (0) |
Semi-final |
1 (0) |
1 (0) |
Final |
1 (0) |
0 (0) |
Total |
16 (2) |
15 (0) |
(*) - The number in parentheses is the number of concession wins
that occurred in each instance.
|
Axis |
Allies |
Average VTs in a Win |
15.94 |
15.47 |
Average IPCs in a Win |
86.81 |
110.47 |
Average IPC % (>) in a Win |
24.01 |
15.07 |
Average Rounds in a Win |
5.38 |
6 |
Bidding |
Axis Wins |
Allied Wins |
No Bid |
4 |
4 |
Axis Bid |
7 |
4 |
Allied Bid |
5 |
7 |
Average Bid |
3.09 IPCs |
2.92 IPCs |
Quality Games-
In what I term "Quality Games" (games that don't end
in a concession), these are the applicable stats:
Tournament
Stats |
Axis Wins |
Allied Wins |
Round 1 |
5 |
4 |
Round 2 |
3 |
4 |
Round 3 |
2 |
4 |
Semi-final |
1 |
1 |
Final |
1 |
- |
Total |
12 |
13 |
|
Axis |
Allies |
Average VTs in a Win |
14.75 |
14.85 |
Average IPCs in a Win |
81.33 |
107.38 |
Average IPC % (>) in a Win |
16.19 |
11.85 |
Average Rounds in a Win |
5.83 |
5.92 |
Bidding |
Axis Wins |
Allied Wins |
No Bid |
2 |
3 |
Axis Bid |
6 |
3 |
Allied Bid |
4 |
7 |
Average Bid |
2.78 IPCs |
2.91 IPCs |
As always, I am thankful for the help and support of my assistant
GMs, Kevin Keller and Joe Powell. They quietly keep
things on an even keel and that helps make the event a pleasant
experience for all.
I also thank all who participated in the event this year and
I hope that all return for more fun next year!
|
|
Andrew Murphy (left) accepts Joe Powell's
concession in the Final as GM Craig Yope approves the result.
|
The Final Four participants pose beneath
the Axis & Allies banner before beginning the Single
Elimination rounds. |
|