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Ivanhoe
seems firmly established in the nightcap attendance derby. |
Twotime champ Keith Levy and Travis
Nesmith in the semifinals. |
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Threre seems to be a disagreement
over who will claim the shield. |
GM Kirk Harris with his four young
finalists. |
A Tournament of Tournaments ...
The Future is now sayeth the Young ...
Three preliminary heats and 104 participants led to an impressively
contesed tourney that provided the guarantee that only preliminary
round WINNERS would advance. Advancing to the semifinals were
seven double winners Ted Lange, Eli Zlotowski, Tom Johnston,
Joe Harrison, Jeff Burdett, twotime champion Keith Levy, and
Rich Fetzer. Joining them were single winners Alex Gregorio,
Evan Harris, Forest Speck, Mandy Mossman, Faith Wobbeking, 2002
champ Steve Scott, RJ Gleaton, and Jessa Burdett.
Having
to settle for honorable mention were the following preliminary
victors who chose not to advance: Jeff Miller, Dan Lawall, Travis
Nesmith, Larry York, Eric Eshleman, Sarah Beach, Jeff Spaner,
John Schoose, Matthew Beach, Ben Collison Jr., Laura Miller,
Alexander Metzger, Greg Denysenko, Gino Sinigaglio, John Wobbeking,
Angela Hoffman, Dagny, and Joel Lytle
Only one of the seven double winners managed to reach the
Final, the rest having presumably expended too much karma in
the heats. That one was Eli Zlotowski who narrowly bested Forest
Speck five tourney chips to four. Alex Gregorio advanced with
four tourney chips to outscore Ted Lange and Steve Scott with
three each each. Mandy Mossman disposed of a pair of double qualifiers
in Keith Levy and Tom Johnston while squeaking by young RJ Gleaton
four chips to three. The last semifinal was an epic battle as
all four players (Joe Harrison, Jeff and Jessa Burdett, and Faith
Wobbeking) were within one chip of victory. The all important
fourth tourney win was claimed by Faith.
15-year old Faith was the last entrant in what might be the
youngest Final in WBC history with Eli at 17, Mandy at 13, and
Alex the grizzled veteran of all of19 years. None of the four
had an IVH laurel to their name, but that was no surprise.
In 11 years, only three people have managed to finish in the
top six more than once. Devoid of any old fogeys, the Final proved
to be a GREAT contest. Alex was the first to win a chip and the
first to reach two chips. Eli then matched those two chips, before
Mandy strung three consecutive victories. A fourth that would
have clinched the win in spectacular come from behind fashion
was lost only when Eli unhorsed her attempt at a Purple tourney.
Faith then made her grab for glory, winning two consecutive chips
and almost taking her fourth on three separate occasions only
to be thwarted by Alex whom prevented Green victories twice and
caused a disgrace with an attempt at a clinching Red victory.
Eventually Eli and Alex, drew even with the ladies at three chips
apiece. However, Eli was less card-depleted as Alex had diminished
his hand blocking Faith multiple times. When Faith won her third
chip (after the disgrace) to equal the entire table at three
chips each, she was so depleted in cards that she was forced
to start a Blue tournament - which Eli, was able to claim - for
the 2014 Ivanhoe WBC championship!
Eli's win capped an amazing run - playing in two preliminaries,
semifinals, and Final without EVER tasting defeat. Congratulations
to the young folks ... may you reign long and prosper.
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The young finalists have sorted out
the booty. |
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