Abernathy Captures First 1775 Title!

1775 continues its popularity at WBC with attendance participation in 2025 at 32. Academy Games Birth of America series, (1754, 1775, 1812), allows players for each side to strategize together either the British or American factions in an attempt to control the most colonies. Although the game can be played as either a two, three or four player game, 1775 in tournament format, each side as a faction controlling either the British or American moves his or her forces from a random draw bag each turn.

Once again, following the format of 2024, the mulligan round was set on the first Weekend. Last time out the event drew 30 participants that mostly had never played the game. This year 22 folks showed up ready to test their skill and newfound education from the demo event in the morning. The numbers were impacted by a massive fire alarm event that impacted the mulligan for over an hour.

Given the high number of new players, pairings were made up of mostly experienced players with games verses those still learning without games. In the end, the British side won 6 of the 11 mulligan round matches with the two closest matches being Richard Doorley beating Brian Scilzo 3 to 2; and John Manley beating Mark Miklos 4-3. Of interest two of the mulligan matches were decided by a tie breaker, Conlon vs Raszewski (W) and Welsh (W) vs Mirk. Both of these matches were tied in colony controls. The tie breaker being total number of forces under their control, with the first match 60-50 and the second 69-48, respectively.

In Round 1, many of the vanquished returned. Those that won the mulligan round were not required to play Round 1, so many of the games had players with little experience playing opponents of similar skills. In all, 18 faced off with the American side winning 6 of the 13 contests. Again, one more game ended in a tie and went to the tie breaker. Patrick Duffy beat Ian Lange 57-43; Two of the contests in Round 1 were decided by a single colony.

In Round 2, every Mulligan winner as well as Round 1 winners were now eligible to continue. So, 20 folks took their seats in the 10 games of Round 2. Six games went to the Americans and four to the British. Most games were quite close, with a single or two colony margin of victory.

Round 3 now began with mostly very experienced veterans. Five games, and ten contestants paired off. Jeff Lange Jr defeated K. Keller 4-1; S. O’Connor defeated Richard Doorley 5-2; David Schneider defeated R. Kirchner 5-4; Teddy Lange defeated Tim Miller 5-4. Avery Abernathy defeated Alexander Lange on the tie break 60 to 40.

Round 4: The round started with five players remaining. To even the bracket we used a volunteer eliminator to play the lowest seed in the round. Ian Lange as the eliminator lost to Jeff Lange Jr. 4-2; Teddy Lange lost to David Schneider 5-3; and Shawn O’Connor lost to Avery Abernathy.

Semifinal: The three Round 4 players incorporated a bye with the highest ranked player score receiving the bye. David Schneider had the highest overall score with a combined +17. Jeff Lange Jr and Avery Abernathy both had a combined score of 5 points and after a hard fought match Avery won 4 to 3.

Final: The final featured David Schneider who has won this event multiple times vs Avery Abernathy in the Quebec Scenario. Both sides went back and forth in control of cities with Avery attaining the win with a score of 6 to 4.