Still on Trial ...
This year witnessed a rebirth in interest in Gettysburg.
Last year the number of contestants dropped below 16 and this
old favorite was placed on the Trial events list. This year 18
players entered due to a combination of timing and a quicker
format. The single elimination format, using timed rounds, moved
games along at a brisk pace. A number had to be adjudicated,
but most were easy decisions.
The
tournament used the three-day battle with sudden death victory
conditions and all optional rules, except replacement leaders.
Sides were determined by secret choice. In the event of both
players choosing the same side, the dice were rolled with the
high roller having the first bid for sides by victory points.
Bids were auction style. Although most players wanted to be the
South, the winning side was fairly even between the Blue and
Gray. The bids significantly determined the ultimate winner of
only one or two games.
In the first round winners included Kevin McCarthy , Bryan
Von Nortick, Dave Zimmerman, Byron Stingley, Roger Knowles, Bill
Place, Chuck Stapp , Mike Pacheco, and in the closest adjudicated
match of the tournament, Allen Kaplan over John Poniske. A special
sportsmanship kudo goes to John for taking the long debated decision
of the two assistant GM's like a true gentleman.
The second round started with a perfect eight player-bracket
when Mike Pacheco dropped out to kick some butt in the Great
Campaigns of the Civil War Tournament. The winners of the second
round were all players with strong records of past victories.
Those advancing were Kevin McCarthy ( three-time champion), Dave
Zimmerman (a frequent finalist), Chuck Stapp (1999 Waterloo
champ) and Allen Kaplan ( two-time champion).
The semi-finals pitted Kevin McCarthy against Dave Zimmerman
and Chuck Stapp vs Allen Kaplan. Allen made quick work of Chuck's
Yankees. However, the battle between Dave and Kevin was much
closer.This set the stage for the final between Kevin McCarthy
and Allen Kaplan who between them would be battling for their
isxth title.
Allen took the South with a bid of two. The first day started
conservatively, as the Rebels entered cautiously to avoid any
risk of loss to the irreplaceable infantry divisions. When the
Southern strength was assembled in the afternoon, the South struck
hard inflicting casualties and gaining victory point hexes.
The second day of battle started with casualties being inflicted
on both sides. On each turn both sides attacked with all available
force seeking to break the power of the opposition. The turning
point came when both neared the breaking point. The dice grew
cold for the South when no casualties were inflicted in three
turns of all-out assaults. The North took a gradual advantage
to slowly erode the Rebels and Allen conceded Kevin's fourth
championship.
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