Mike Stanley and Eric Brosius pair off for some early competition.	GM Jeff Mullet is testing the "big trouble in small packages" theory.

Once again this year we went with the two-player version and four swiss preliminary rounds. We also used the optional rule that the first player started with five cards and the second player got six. Both players then discard down to a hand of four cards. Players were not forced to play all rounds, but at least three wins were required to advance to a single elimination bracket.

Again, rounds were scheduled for one hour each. Every game was finished within 45 minutes, even though a few of the players had just been taught how to play at the demo before play began. While it was nice that slow play was not a problem, it did leave all of us standing around for 15 to 25 minutes to wait for the top of the hour, since some players would step away after their games were finished. Therefore, next year's rounds will start every 45 minutes. That will also shave off a full hour from the tournament.

Before the tournament began, there was some (good-natured) grumbling from some of the players that a CABS member has won three of the four WBC San Juan tournaments. In fact, Tom Browne boldly stated that his main goal was to knock out a Cabbie rather than win the wood! There were six Cabbies entered and we were all determined to keep Tom from reaching his goal.

Defending champ Pete Stein was among the first Cabbies to fall, accompanied by Mark Geary and Mike Stanley. In the opening Single Elimination brackets, Sean McCulloch and former champ, Bruce Reiff went down also. In the second elimination round, Tom Browne would get his chance. Tom cruised to a relatively easy victory over the last Cabbie standing, Jeff Mullet. A collective cheer rang out when it became apparent a non-Cabbie would win this year.

Denied any more Cabbie bloodlust targets, Tom had to settle for Euro-shark Eric Freeman in the Final. Somebody must have told him Eric was moving to Columbus.

Eric started strong by building a Quarry on Turn 1 while Tom passed. Advantage, Eric. The next turn, Tom built a Smithy, while Eric passed. Turn 3 had Eric build a Poor House, while Tom put up a Silver Smelter. The momentum looked like it might be turning.

Turn 4, Eric built a Sugar Mill, while Tom passed. Turn 5, Tom constructed a Prefecture, while Eric built a Trading Post. Now Tom was firmly ahead. The Sugar Mill and Trading Post are two of the weakest buildings in the game. Meanwhile, Tom is now at an advantage no matter what Occupation Eric chooses.

Turn 6, Eric gets the best building in a two-player game, the Library, while Tom settles for an Indigo Plant. It's starting to look like Tom either has a Guild Hall, or he's tgambling that he's going to get one. Knowing Tom, probably the former. Turn 7, Eric builds a Chapel and Tom erects a Tobacco Storage.

Turn 8, Tom constructs another Tobacco Storage, while Eric falls further behind and passes. Turn 9, Eric builds a Coffee Market and Tom adds another Indigo Plant. On Turn 10, as expected, Tom builds a Guild hall, to Eric's Black Market.

Turn 11, Eric tries a comeback by building a City Hall as Tom passes. Tom slams the door shut by building a Palace on Turn 12, while Eric is forced to pass. Turn 13, Eric builds a Hero, while Tom adds yet another Tobacco Storage. On Turn 14, Tom ends the game by building another Silver Smelter, while Eric builds a Market Hall.

Eric could just not seem to get the good card draws while Tom enjoyed probably his largest margin of victory in the entire tournament with a score of 42 to 34. Tom got to have his cake and eat it too as he achieved his secondary goal of winning the tournament. The Cabbies present had decided to all chip in and pay for a membership to CABS for Tom, just to spite him, so that a "Cabbie" would still be the champ. But the CABS board didn't think our club's reputation could survive the hit it would take by having Tom as a member.

Thanks to everyone for their fast play and good humor and sporstmanship throughout the tournament.

Our photographer gets her competition fix vs Greg Thatcher.	GM Mullet oversees his finalists in a non-Cabbie Final.