Settlers drew triple digitse for the 7th straight year and, unlike other big events, does so without heats or late night "party" slots.	You know a game has achieved classic status when you start seeing deluxe accessories like this wooden layout board.

For 2008, we used the same format that KOSMOS uses for their tournaments in Europe. This has each player placing a Settlement/Road, a City/Road, followed by another Road. This gets the game off to a quicker start. It also helps keep the games moving along with 90 minute rounds (including set up and initial placements). This format worked well as we did not have any games called due to time.

The tournament format has players "settling" in three preliminary games. Each of these games earns the players Tournament points. Points are awarded based on placing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th (5, 3, 2, and 1 points, respectively). The 16 highest scoring settlers at the end of the three rounds advance to the semi-finals.

We continue to accept drop-ins and drop-outs for those unable to commit the time to play three qualifying games. My thanks to those who notified me prior to leaving. A note to those who dropped out without saying anything: it would be a great boon for those playing in subsequent heats (as well as for your friendly neighborhood GM) to notify me or an Assistant before leaving as it makes the subsequent tables easier to seat.

There were 28 games played in the first round, 25 in the second round although there were three 3-player games here, and 20 games played in the third round. After the preliminaries, the number crunching for the top 16 began. In past years, a total of at least 11.X tournament points were needed to advance. This year, in order to advance to the semi-finals, you needed at least 12.0 tournament points; that means you needed to win two out of the three preliminary games, and finish above last place in the third game.

The semi-finalists were seated randomly: Tom Dunning, Nick Henning, Allyson Field, and Ashley Collinson at Table 1; Michelle Hymowitz, Harald Henning, Michael Shea and Brian Conlon at Table 2; Matt Tolman, Rod Davidson, Andrew Roosen and Rich Curtin at Table 3; and Sue Lanham, Michael Mullins, Marybeth Mitchell and Mikkel Christensen at the last. Seven (Tom Dunning, Matt Tolman, Harald Henning, Sue Lanham, Nick Henning, Andrew Roosen, and Michael Mullins) had won all three of their preliminary games. None of these semi-finalists had won this event in the past, guaranteeing a new champion. In fact, in 14 prior tournaments, only one of them, Tom Dunning, had ever laureled.

The finalists and their semi-final game scores were: Tom Dunning 10-9-9-7; Harald Henning 10-7-6-6; Matt Tolman 11-8-7-6; and Mikkel Christensen 10-9-9-9.

In the Final, Mikkel set up first: he placed his settlement on Grain, Brick and Wool.. Next, Matt chose the Lumber and Ore intersection on the Ore port. Then Harald chose Lumber and double Grain. Finally, Tom also chose Lumber and double Grain for his settlement, then Brick, Lumber and Ore for his City. Harald placed his City on Brick and double Wool, Matt placed his on Grain and Wool, and Mikkel chose Wool and double Lumber. Finally, they each placed a third Road, and were ready to play.

Turn 1: Harald built a Settlement on Wool and double Brick, and Tom built a Settlement on Lumber and Ore, at the Wool port. Score: Mikkel-3, Matt-3, Harald-4, Tom-4.

Turn 2: Mikkel and Matt bought a card each.

Turn 3: Mikkel built two Roads by playing Roadbuilding, and Matt played his first Soldier.

Turn 4: Matt and Harald each purchased a card.

Turn 5: Mikkel built a settlement on Wool and Lumber. Matt played a second Soldier and built a settlement on Ore and Grain. Harald played a Solder and built two Roads. Current score: Mikkel-4, Matt-4, Harald-4, Tom-4.

Turn 6: Mikkel bought a card and a Road and claimed the Longest Road. Harald built a settlement on double-Wool at a 3:1 port. Tom upgraded his initial settlement at the Lumber, double Grain intersection to a City. Current score: Mikkel-6, Matt-4, Harald-5, Tom-5.

Turn 7: Matt bought four cards, and Tom bought a card and a Road.

Turn 8: Mikkel bought a card. Matt played his third Soldier (thus claiming the Largest Army) and bought a card. Harald built two Roads and claimed the Longest Road from Mikkel. Current score: Mikkel-4, Matt-6, Harald-7, Tom-5.

Turn 9: Mikkel built a Road, Matt played a Soldier and built a Road. Harald built a Road. Then Tom claimed a Monopoly on Ore, and built a Road and a settlement on Grain at a 3:1 port. Current score: Mikkel-4, Matt-6, Harald-7, Tom-6.

Turn 10: Matt played a Year of Plenty for two Ore and purchased three cards. Harald bought a card. Tom upgraded his settlement at the Lumber-Ore intersection to a City. Current score: Mikkel-4, Matt-6, Harald-7, Tom-7.

Turn 11: Mikkel bought a card. Matt played the second Year of Plenty for two Ore (again), bought two cards, and upgraded his initial settlement, on the Lumber-Brick intersection, to a City. Harald played a Soldier, and then built a settlement on a Wool corner. Tom upgraded his settlement on the 3:1 Grain port to a City. Current score: Mikkel-4, Matt-7, Harald-8, Tom-8.

Turn 12: Mikkel played a Soldier and bought a card. Matt also played a Soldier. Harald built a Road.

Turn 13: Mikkel built a Road and a settlement on Brick corner, at the Lumber port. Matt played a soldier. Tom built a Road and a settlement on a Grain corner, at the Brick port. Current score: Mikkel-5, Matt-7, Harald-8, Tom-8.

Turn 14: Matt played a Soldier and bought a card; he also upgraded his settlement at the Ore-Grain intersection to a City. Tom bought a card. Current score: Mikkel-5, Matt-:8, Harald-8, Tom-9.

Turn 15: Mikkel built a Road. Matt played a Soldier. Harald bought the last two cards in the deck, which included the last VP card. Tom played his Soldier and built two Roads. By this time, it was pretty clear that Mikkel had three VP cards, Matt one, and Harald one. Penultimate score, counting VP's from Development cards: Mikkel-8, Matt-9, Harald-9, Tom-9.

Turn 16: Mikkel built a Settlement on an Ore corner, at a 3:1 port. Matt built two Roads and a settlement on Grain to win the game. Final scores: Mikkel-9, Matt-10, Harald-9, Tom-9.

All of the Development cards were purchased: Mikkel purchased only five development cards, of which three were Victory Point cards. Matt drew 13 cards before he found his only VP card. Harald drew four cards (including one VP card), and Tom drew the other two cards.

Settlers will be in need of a new GM next year.

Three swiss and two elimination rounds allow you to play 15 people in one day.	After four gruelling rounds, Mikkel, Matt and Harald vie for wood in the Final.

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2008 Euro Quest Laurelists
Tom Dunning, NY 1st Bob Wicks Jr, CT 2nd Michael Brazinski, MD 3rd Bill Murdock, NY 4th Peter Eirich, PA 5th