CCN returned to a Wednesday schedule, sadly drawing its smallest field yet who nonetheless logged 31 games in 12 hours of combat. Most games were played in one and a half hours, and only two were adjudicated.  Play balance was as good as you can get with 16 French wins vs 15 British wins. Nine of the 31 games were decided by a single banner (point), which is very close combat indeed!  Only three games were won by shutout. Only four games had a bid for the preferred side; three for one banner and one bid of two.

The format remained a mulligan round followed by five single elimination rounds. There was  a  two hour time limit from setup to end.

The mulligan scenario was Rolica (French First Position) . Tim Hitchings commented that he had great dice and great cards and that’s all it takes.

Round 1 was the Talavera scenario. Peter Perla as the British, did a cavalry charge with the guard heavy cavalry and some light cavalry against Josh Coyle’s French but the French played a first strike card against the guard cavalry and got three hits to eliminate it.  You never know!

Round 2 was the Austrian expansion’s Haslach-Jungingen scenario. Jack Morrell taught Nicholas Chepaitis the CCN game in the morning using this scenario and barely beat him 6-5 in the afternoon.

Round 3 used Salamanca (Attack on the French Left) scenario as the field was culled to eight. Again Jack Morrell (French) escaped with a 6-5 win by dangerously sending a light cavalry with two blocks left through an opening in the line to hit Dan Dolan’s British heavy cavalry with one block left on the board edge for the win.

Round 4 used the Russian expansion, Borodino (Utitza) scenario for the semifinals. The players were the top three finishers in 2014 and Allen Kaplan.

John Kirk bid two banners to play the French but they were burnt out from battling all day so Morrell’s Russians showed no mercy, crushing them 7-0 while holding the city the city for another victory point.

The other bracket saw Andy as the Russians, handicapped with a bad Mother Russia roll at start. However, two Bayonet Charge and a Force March card came his way to recover from the shaky start. Thus equipped, Andy attacked immediately and put the hurt on Al’s French, knocking five units down to a block apiece, but Allen withdrew them safety.  Andy then attacked a French line unit and rolled three cross-sabers! It was looking good until Allen said “Those are not hits.You attacked with MILITIA—they don’t hit on cross sabers.” He then moved a French artillery unit up a hill hex near the Russians and pounded the defending champ into a 7-4 defeat.

The Final was waged at Waterloo of course on the 200th anniversary of the battle.  Jack Morrell donned his Nappy hat and bid 1 for the French.  The British artillery were smoking hot, landing hit after hit. The French artillery was ineffective. The opening barrages gave Jack a 3-0 lead. The French took the Papelotte town and their cavalry attacked the British left flank getting some hits but the British artillery scored another kill. Allen went ahead 4-1, then 5-1. Jack continued his attack on the British left and sent more cavalry into the center. The Banner gap closed to 7-5. Jack sent  one French heavy Cuirassier cavalry to charge behind the British line.  Allen had no center cards left and when he does roll a hit, the Cuirassier cavalry ignores one hit from infantry and ignores one retreat. Jack racks up three kills for an 8-7 win.  It was a really enjoyable game  to watch unfold (except to  Allen).

I want to thank Tim Hitchings and Allen Kaplan for being Assistant GMs, and for their advice and help running the tournament. Many Thanks to GMT games, Tony Curtis, Andy Lewis and Richard Borg.

Defending champ Andy Stapp vs Pete Stein.	GM Chuck Stapp with his finalists.