A Greenville- CABs confontation with Sean McCulloch (right) facing Mafia honchos Arthur Field and Scott Pfeiffer. The WBC's very own Big Ten/ACC challenge.	Hmm ... more Mafia - CABS showdowns with Bryan Collars and Ralph Gleaton vs Mike Stanley. Since when is the Mafia into Auction?

This year could easily be called 'The Invasion of the Mafia' as several members of the Greenville Mafia showed up to challenge the CABS hegemony in this event.

In the mulligan round Auction regulars Jon Lockwood, Kate Taillon, Ken Gutermuth, Lisa Gutermuth and Bruce Reiff all punched their ticket to the semi-finals. The Wojtaszczyk clan, the Field family, and pond hopper Nick Smith were among the folks who would have to try again.

The second-chance Round 1 came and defending champ Mike Stanley ran into a buzzsaw in the form of young Henry Pfieffer of the Greenville Mafia who quickly put an end to his title defense. Our illustrious champ imitated my wife by managing to end the game with less money than he started!! Other winners included Carol Haney, Arthur Field, Jason Levine and Steve Cuccaro.

12 players advanced to the semi-finals knowing that with only three games in the semis, the best runner-up would also make the Final. Arthur Field won his board by a comfortable margin. Ken Gutermuth edged Kremlin guru Steve Cuccaro by selling his last item - Queen Anne - for 100% and just making the $7500 needed to win. However, Steve managed to make enough to slip into the Final by the back door with his close second. Marc Houde, crushed his table including yours truly, by over $4000. And so, began my week ...

The Final was set with two experienced past champions, a relative newcomer in Marc Houde and the sneaky KGB head Steve Cuccaro. Arthur jumped out to an early lead with Prints and Glassware, but he made a fatal mistake when he sold Rare Miscellany trying for the win. Marc Houde had a set of books, but was waiting around for more Queen Anne furniture that never showed. Ken Gutermuth, NOT showing why he is a past champion didn't have any sets, just a little bit of cash. However, our sneaky KGB Chief managed to get himself an additional Buyers card and was able to swoop in and add Arthur's Rare Miscellany to his hand for the win. Arthur finished second and Mark third. And a new member was added to the exclusive club known as Auction champions.

Auction is an overlooked little gem. You can pick it up quickly, but it is still a very strategic game. It's a "B" event so stop by and join the fun next year!!!!!

Little Reiff, Marc Houde, Steve Cuccaro and Kevin Wojtaszcyk provide a less confrontational foursome. Egad ... another Reiff plaque collector in the wings.	The finalists. Although CABS claims Gutermuth as a ringer ... err member, he lives closer to the Mafia and attends more of their meetings so I gotta give this one to Greenville.