This year's Classic Iron Man is Doug James, who managed to best a strong field of CIM aspirants, including his 28 direct opponents in The Russian Campaign. Unlike last year, this year's multi-event winners failed to compile enough points to surpass the value of winning the biggest CIM event (TRC). Thirteen Iron Men scored points in more than one event, and three of them scored in three events. Rob Beyma, who was second in TRC, fell short of the championship, due to the low draw of entrants in Waterloo and 1776, allowing him to grab only 4th overall in the CIM standings. Robert Frisby won two events, but Fortess Europa and Panzergruppe Guderian were too small to generate enough points to beat James, leaving Frisby in Second overall, and among the Top Twelve for both years. Last year's champion, Bruno Sinigaglio, was the only other player to repeat a Top Twelve finish, scoring in three events again, but failing to win any wood this year. Robert Ryan's victory in Anzio, the second-most valuable CIM event, garnered him 3rd place overall, though he failed to score in any other CIM event. Fifth place went to Randy Heller, who won Africa Korps and was fourth in Bulge. Once again last to report its final, Panzerblitz yielded Bill Scott 40 points and Sixth overall. Winning two small CIM events and placing second in a third event, Bruce Reiff made the Top Twelve this year, scoring an 8th place tie with 30 points.

In order to score CIM points, an entrant had to reach the top four of the constituent events (91 entrants managed to score at least once this year - a drop of three from 1999).

CIM Events

The 27 constituent events had 498 entrants in 2000, 7.8% above 1999's 28 events (Main Battle Tank was not offered in 2000). Fifteen of the events grew, while eleven shrank and one remained the same. This growth outpaced the improvement of 1999 over 1998 entrants. The largest growth happened in Anzio and Stock Market Guru (which doubled in size) and returned to the Century. Other events to grow 50% or more were non-wargames: Facts in Five, Auction and Paydirt--partly due to an influx of youth and partly due to favorable scheduling. Events in serious decline are: Turning Point Stalingrad, Waterloo, Civil War, Origins of WW II, Battle of the Bulge '81 and Storm Over Arnhem. Ten events failed to draw 16 entrants.

Steady growth of The Russian Campaign event's size means that it now yields more than 10% of the total CIM points available. It is approaching the popularity/length criteria for becoming an "excluded event"; with further growth it may no longer fit in the Classics Iron Man Championship, given that its points weigh so heavily in the trophy hunt. Of course, if the other CIM events can manage to grow as well, then this weighting problem won't exist.