Hood Returns To Win First Championship Since 1998!

The WBC Diplomacy Tournament 2025 is back for another amazing year of backstabbing. This year’s tournament was run by Anton Wilsbach, a regular Diplomacy player at WBC for the past several years, due to the regular GM having a conflict. In addition to the usual awards for 1st – 7th places (top board) and best countries, this year had two additional awards: “Best Diplomat” goes to the player that best embodies the spirit and camaraderie of the game of Diplomacy; and the “Golden Blade”, awarded by player nomination and judges final determination to the player that pulls the sneakiest stab, uses the most unusual tactics, or displays the most devious of diplomatic skill.

As a new GM, I would like to mention that this year’s Diplomacy tournament was marked by exceptional sportsmanship on behalf of all participants, especially with regard to the newer and/or younger players. I clearly remember my early forays into Diplomacy and the frustration of getting my butt handed to me repeatedly. In the tournament environment, pity is scarce but the defeats delivered with grace and good advice will certainly encourage those new players to return again next year for another go at it.

The WBC Diplomacy Tournament 2025 was 3 rounds of play. Players’ best 2 scores (using the C-Diplo scoring system) are totaled to determine winners.

Round 1: Two Boards

Board #1 Austria: Evan Walter, England: David Hood, France: Ryan Feathers, Germany: Rex Martin, Italy: Alex Smith, Russia: Dan Elkins, Turkey: Brady Detwiler. An early England/France alliance leads Germany’s elimination. Turkey tries hard to keep up with the western alliance. Board top goes to England with 13 centers, 2nd to France with 10, 3rd to Turkey with 9.

Board #2 Austria: Harald Henning/Dave Rynkowski, England: Orin D. Bichard, France: Ed Prem, Germany: Paul Konka, Italy: Jack Wilsbach, Russia: Amber Martin, Turkey: Jay Boring. A hard fought board from start to finish. Italy goes for Trieste right out of the gate. Turkey immediately asserts control of the Black Sea. A potential western triple devolves to France/Germany alliance with England left out in the cold. Austria has a rough time of it, besieged on all sides, with Harald H. having to leave the game early due to a family emergency. Dave Rynkowski (after agreeing to sit out Round 1 due to too many players for 2 boards) graciously agrees to take over for him, but Austria is soon eliminated at the end of 1902. A contentious game with 3 solid contenders for board top in 1905. Final result is a shared board top between France and Turkey with 8 centers each, Germany in 3rd with 7 centers.

Round 2: Two Boards

Board #1 Austria: Orin Bichard, England: Amber Martin, France: Evan Walter, Germany: Jack Wilsbach, Italy: Richard Beyma, Russia: Paul Konka, Turkey: Kevin Youells. Another hard fought game with only Austria being eliminated and 4 solid contenders for board top near the end. A France/Germany alliances works out well for France. Board top is France with 9 centers, 2nd Turkey with 8, and Germany and Russia sharing 3rd with 6 each.

Board #2 Austria: Brady Detwiler, England: Matt Lahut, France: Dennis Mishler, Germany: Frederick Shea, Italy: Rex Martin, Russia: David Rynkowski, Turkey: Andrew Martin. A brutal game with multiple eliminations with Germany, Italy, and Turkey going to zero centers. Austria, England, and France dominate, with Russia managing to survive to the end. Board top to France with 12 centers, 2nd to Austria with 11, 3rd to England with 8.

Round 3: 3 Boards

Board #1 Austria: Dave Rynkowski, England: Brady Detwiler, France: Paul Konka, Germany: Jay Schoenen, Italy: Dennis Mishler, Russia: Frederick Shea, Turkey: Ryan Feathers. By Round Three, the boards were all getting down to business Italy and Turkey work together to dominate the eastern side of the board, eliminating both Austria and Russia while the western powers bicker. The final result (with a draw vote in Spring 1905) is Turkey topping the board with 11 centers, Italy 2nd with 9, England and Germany tied for 3rd with 6 each.

Board #2 Austria: Jay Buckwalter, England: David Rynkowski, France: Jack Wilsbach, Germany: Ed Prem, Italy: Amber Martin, Russia: Evan Walter, Turkey: Alex Smith. An odd France/Germany/Russia alliance, which eliminates Austria and England, breaks down in 1905 with a well-timed stab by Germany against both allies. Board top to Germany with 10 centers, France and Turkey tied for 2nd with 8 each.

Board #3 Austria: Brian Scilzo, England: Elizabeth Shea, France: Jay Buckwalter, Germany: David Hood, Italy: Jay Borring, Russia: Orin Bichard, Turkey: Rex Martin. England and Turkey eliminate Russia with German assistance. Italy and Germany team up to eliminate France with English help. By 1904, the final result is apparently clear to the remaining players and a draw is voted in Fall 1904. Board top to Germany with 10 centers, England and Turkey tie for 2nd with 8 each.

Event Total: 7 boards / 25 players

The Top Board were the top seven finishers in the event, essentially forming the best table.

1. David Hood 101 points
2. Ed Prem 84 points
3. Dennis Mishler 75 points (tiebreaker high score 51)
4. Ryan Feathers 75 points (tiebreaker high score 50)
5. Evan Walter 67.5 points
6. Jay Borring 43 points (tiebreaker high score 35)
7. Brady Detwiler 43 points (tiebreaker high score 26)

The Best Country awards were given out to the best single game score for that Power. We had a tie for Best Germany in the event (tiebreaker was average # of centers over the course of the game as that power. The winner elected to share the prize):

• Best Austria: Brady Detwiler, round2, 11 centers, 26 points
• Best England: David Hood, round1, 13 centers, 52 points
• Best France: Dennis Mishler, round 2, 12 centers, 51 points
• Best Germany:
  • David Hood, round 3, 10 centers, 49 points (7.5 avg centers)
  • Ed Prem, round 3, 10 centers, 49 points (7.4 avg centers)
• Best Italy: Dennis Mishler, round 3, 9 centers, 24 points
• Best Russia: Evan Walter, round 3, 8 centers, 19.5 points
• Best Turkey: Ryan Feathers, round 3, 11 centers, 50 points

Best Diplomat award to David Rynkowski for agreeing to sit out round 1, then agreeing to take over for a player that had to leave due to family emergency. Also, for bringing pizza to round 3, continuing the tradition of years past. (Also, for moral support as I tried to keep up with running my first Diplomacy tournament.) Many thanks!

Golden Blade award goes to Ed Prem for a perfectly timed double stab that gained him the board top in round 3, a (virtual) tie for best Germany, and 2nd place finish overall. Honorable mention to Paul Konka, who as France was most eloquent in his attempt to convince Italy of the threat posed by Turkey, while his freshly minted Marseilles fleet was merely a defensive build.

In addition to the awards and prizes, swag (provided by Renegade games) was handed out in abundance: games, shirts, cups, stickers, pens, and hats. Also, it should be noted that 2025 marks the release of “Diplomacy: Era of Empire”, a much-anticipated variation to the original game, several copies of which were given away.