and now a word from our sponsor
....
There were 28 entrants this year, a 40% increase, undoubtedly
due to the multiple heat format. The last heat had only two three-player
games and I suggest that next year's GM consider only two heats.
The first round winners were: Kurt Schlegel, James Cleland,
John Poniske, Don Greenwood, James Kramer, John Conlon, Michael
Destro, Bob Destro, and Peter Markevich. John Keating, David
Kyle, and Luke Koleszar made the semis with best second place
finishes. Attrition due to schedule conflicts led to two second
round games. Both games were "bloody" with many ratings
wars. Since the first two places were to advance the games ended
iwhen only two players remained. At the first
table Peter Markevich and John Keating outlasted John Conlon
and Bob by the skin of their teeth. Both only had one or two
shows when Bob was eliminated. At the second table, David and
Luke more comfortably eliminated Mike and Larry Lingle who was
able to play as an alternate.
The final game consisted of Peter, John Keating, David, and
the survivor Larry who was the first alternate when Luke couldn't
make it because it was felt there shouldn't be three from one
table in the final, eliminating Bob. (Thus endeth the Destro
dynasty!) This game also had lots of rating wars. Peter was knocked
out first when one of his network executives tried to buy a miniseries
with Pete's last show. Actually it was a Bulletin card and it
said he must buy a show for $3000. He only had $1500 so had to
sell his last show and leave the game. David was ousted next
by losing his last show in a ratings war. This left John and
Larry. John seemed to be ahead at first but Larry had a couple
of lucky rolls and got a movie to help him out. Finally, John
lost his last show in a ratings war. He had a "90"
show, the best you can normally have, but Larry
had a "special" with a +33 Critic's Choice. A "7"
or less roll would have saved John but Larry rolled a "9"
and won the tournament with two shows remaining in his network.
There
were 11 pint-sized netwrok executives in the Junior version of
the event won by Alex Henning - seemingly following in Rebecca
Hebner's footsteps with a trifecta of her own ... carring home
much more wood than her parents.
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