Due to the C19 pandemic, the live FUK20 tournament in York had to be cancelled. 19 players had entered, 10 signed up for the online substitute and 2 other former FUK players agreed to play.
The qualifying round was played over several weeks leading up to late June. Each player played one game in each of the 4 roles. Beside York & UK regulars Andrew Brown and John McCullough, we were delighted to welcome another York player, Guillermo Heras, to his first tournament.
Besides being the World's first online Friedrich tournament (to my knowledge), it was also the first to use the new tournament variation where fate cards America, Elisabeth and Lord Bute could not appear until the end of turn 10 at the earliest (4 turns later than usual). Comparing the 13 games of FUK20 to the 21 games of FUK18, the average turn on which Elisabeth appeared (and thus Russia exited) was 17 compared to 12, whereas the average French exit stayed at 16. Win percentages (excess over 100% reflects joint wins) were (18/20): Prussia (57/54), Russia/Swe (14/30), Austria/IA (19/15) and France (19/8).
Six of the 12 qualifying games were played live, with 5 players playing two simultaneous games - including Guillermo doing it twice! The shortest live game took 2 hours and 20 minutes (10 turns), the longest 9 hours and 5 minutes (21 turns) - there is no doubt that game durations were lengthened by waiting for the turns of players playing in other simultaneous games.
Guy Atkinson (Spain) topped the qualification round with 3 wins and 43.5 points, Alexander Schroeder (Germany) came 2nd with 2 wins and 41.1667 points, John McCullough (UK) came 3rd with 2 wins and 40 points and Christian Blattner (Germany) came 4th with 2 wins and 39.75 points.
For the final Guy chose Austria/IA, Alex Prussia/Hannover, John Russia/Sweden, leaving Christian with France.
What an epic game with four expert players playing at or near the top of their games.
Duration: 7 hours 40 minutes; 21 turns; Fate India 9, Lord Bute 17, America 18, Elisabeth 19, Sweden 21. That meant Alex had to battle all three major nations for 18 turns but he had the advantage of 17 draws of 7 cards.
John cleared E Prussia and got 2 of the hearts objectives S of Kammin quickly but never took another objective. Alex sat a general on Schivelbein in Kammin for almost all the game. By end of turn 9 Russia had drawn 2 cards of clubs, 12 points total (2 cards and 4 points for Sweden), thereafter he only got a dribble of club draws. John sent a Russian strength 1 general and the Swedes into Saxony and towards Magdeburg - they killed several Prussian Generals (kept reappearing!) and a supply train, which helped reduce the Prussian hand from 50+ to 20+. Guy adopted the strategy of multiple attacks on Prussia where he appeared weakest - thus making progress both with the IA (especially after the Russia/Sweden forays) and in Silesia. Christian got his 8 points in the West but lost a 50 points or so hearts battle near Magdeburg and thereafter suffered John's fate (few heart draws). Late on Guy started extracting Prussian clubs in Silesia - but not quite in time for John. The end saw Guy battling to get Breslau and Oels for the win but the usual excellent tactical play by Alex foiled him.
So Alex is a worthy champion (well done Team Berlin!) after a classic final.
The qualifying round was played over several weeks leading up to late June. Each player played one game in each of the 4 roles. Beside York & UK regulars Andrew Brown and John McCullough, we were delighted to welcome another York player, Guillermo Heras, to his first tournament.
Besides being the World's first online Friedrich tournament (to my knowledge), it was also the first to use the new tournament variation where fate cards America, Elisabeth and Lord Bute could not appear until the end of turn 10 at the earliest (4 turns later than usual). Comparing the 13 games of FUK20 to the 21 games of FUK18, the average turn on which Elisabeth appeared (and thus Russia exited) was 17 compared to 12, whereas the average French exit stayed at 16. Win percentages (excess over 100% reflects joint wins) were (18/20): Prussia (57/54), Russia/Swe (14/30), Austria/IA (19/15) and France (19/8).
Six of the 12 qualifying games were played live, with 5 players playing two simultaneous games - including Guillermo doing it twice! The shortest live game took 2 hours and 20 minutes (10 turns), the longest 9 hours and 5 minutes (21 turns) - there is no doubt that game durations were lengthened by waiting for the turns of players playing in other simultaneous games.
Guy Atkinson (Spain) topped the qualification round with 3 wins and 43.5 points, Alexander Schroeder (Germany) came 2nd with 2 wins and 41.1667 points, John McCullough (UK) came 3rd with 2 wins and 40 points and Christian Blattner (Germany) came 4th with 2 wins and 39.75 points.
For the final Guy chose Austria/IA, Alex Prussia/Hannover, John Russia/Sweden, leaving Christian with France.
What an epic game with four expert players playing at or near the top of their games.
Duration: 7 hours 40 minutes; 21 turns; Fate India 9, Lord Bute 17, America 18, Elisabeth 19, Sweden 21. That meant Alex had to battle all three major nations for 18 turns but he had the advantage of 17 draws of 7 cards.
John cleared E Prussia and got 2 of the hearts objectives S of Kammin quickly but never took another objective. Alex sat a general on Schivelbein in Kammin for almost all the game. By end of turn 9 Russia had drawn 2 cards of clubs, 12 points total (2 cards and 4 points for Sweden), thereafter he only got a dribble of club draws. John sent a Russian strength 1 general and the Swedes into Saxony and towards Magdeburg - they killed several Prussian Generals (kept reappearing!) and a supply train, which helped reduce the Prussian hand from 50+ to 20+. Guy adopted the strategy of multiple attacks on Prussia where he appeared weakest - thus making progress both with the IA (especially after the Russia/Sweden forays) and in Silesia. Christian got his 8 points in the West but lost a 50 points or so hearts battle near Magdeburg and thereafter suffered John's fate (few heart draws). Late on Guy started extracting Prussian clubs in Silesia - but not quite in time for John. The end saw Guy battling to get Breslau and Oels for the win but the usual excellent tactical play by Alex foiled him.
So Alex is a worthy champion (well done Team Berlin!) after a classic final.