One is better than two ... (or
none)
This year's event increased participation for the third straight
year. Were it not for several other players having success in
earlier events that carried them forward toward those event finals,
we would have had 28 contestants in all probability.
As
in years past the tournament featured all the games in GMT's
American Revolutionary War Series with Saratoga available
as the default game in every round of play.
This year's format differed from previous tournaments in two
ways. Sides were determined by bidding Army Morale Points rather
than Victory Points and the first round of play was Swiss Elimination.
All players were guaranteed three games; win, lose or draw. The
top eight players, determined by a point system, advanced to
the second round of single elimination.
The first game in the Swiss round was Eutaw Springs. Play
balance could not have been better. There were four British wins
(two substantial and two marginal). There were five American
wins (two substantial and three marginal). There was also one
draw fought between Jim Mehl and Bill Riggs. In addition there
was a Saratoga default game played between Frank Hastings and
Tom Wisner in which Tom's British won a substantial victory.
Eighteen players continued into the second Swiss round that
featured Guilford Courthouse. In this round the British won five
games (one substantial and four marginal) while the Americans
won three games, all by marginal victory. Tournament rules stated
that in Guilford a draw would be scored as an American marginal
victory and that occurred once, between Paul Barker's Americans
and Chuck Frascati's British. There was also one Saratoga default
game played in this round in which Bill Riggs' British won a
substantial victory over Mathew Burkins' Americans.
The third and final Swiss round was the "Knyphausen's
Feint" scenario from Brandywine Creek. Twelve players continued
the contest in this heat. The British side cleaned house garnering
five wins (three substantial and two marginal). Only Frank Hastings'
Americans prevailed over Mike Nagel's British earning the first
decisive victory of the day.
The eight quarter finalists entered the single elimination
round seeded by points as follows: Luke Warren (+8), Tom Wisner
(+7, Army Morale Point differential +37), Mark Miklos (+7, Army
Morale Point differential +33), Paul Barker (+7, Army Morale
Point differential +23), John Vasilakos (+5, Army Morale Point
differential +23), Frank Hastings (+5, Army Morale Point differential
-10), Mike Nagel (+3, Army Morale Point differential +10) and
Bill Riggs (+3, Army Morale Point differential -12).
The first round of single elimination again featured Eutaw
Springs. This time the Americans won three substantial victories.
Only the British commanded by John Vasilakos prevailed with a
substantial victory over Paul Barker's Americans. Paul, incidentally,
is from Great Britain and the first international competitor
to play in the Saratoga tournament since it began at the WBC
in 1999. It was a real pleasure having him with us.
Four semi-finalists emerged: Luke Warren, Mike Nagel, Mark
Miklos and John Vasilakos. Unfortunately Mike had to withdraw
because of commitments in another event and we were sorry indeed
to see him go. This meant that John Vasilakos, as the most recent
past champion (2002), drew a bye while Mark Miklos squared off
with Luke Warren in a semi-final of Saratoga. In the end Miklos'
British won a marginal victory.
Thus the stage was set for a final that reprised last year's.
Miklos took the Americans at Saratoga against Vasilakos who commanded
the King's troops. These two commanded the same sides at Brandywine
Creek in 2002. This year's outcome, however, was a reversal of
fortune as the Americans won a close and hard fought marginal
victory.
In the early turns Miklos attempted to turn the British right
at Freeman's Farm. The gesture failed completely and the British
pressed their advantage for several turns getting out to an early
lead in points. The Americans were only able to stave off disaster
by the good fortune of a double move that allowed Miklos to disengage
and re-form a line behind the Middle Branch.
The middle turns saw both sides deftly maneuver seeking any
advantage. It fell to the Americans who were able to strike the
British left in full measure. They first reduced a German regiment
with rifle fire, killing von Riedesel in the process, and then
gave the coup d' grace with close combat that eliminated the
unit. Simultaneously, Gates released by die roll (turn 9) and
poured reinforcements forward.
The final turns were a foot race for the British baggage train
on the Hudson River. Gates advanced up the River Road while Arnold,
leading Morgan's rifles, Dearborn's light infantry, and several
line regiments from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, went cross-lots
through the forest. American units successfully interdicted some
of the forest paths forcing the British to take the long way
around, thus slowing their progress.
The last turn and a half were a battle for the baggage camp.
In the end, Arnold successfully took the hex but could not push
all the adjacent British units away, thus failing to achieve
a decisive victory. The game ended with British Army Morale wavering
but not demoralized. Miklos, Gates, Arnold and the Americans
won by marginal victory, 7 to 5.
The Republic was saved and Miklos and Vasilakos have next
year's "rubber match" to look forward to.
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