Author Topic: 6th Polish Carcassonne Championship 2016 (Read 5238 times)

Merlin_89 · « **on:** September 19, 2016, 01:48:12 PM »

I guess, I owe you some informations about Polish Championship... It will take place next Saturday, September 24th in Cracow. As always, big final was preceeded by many qualifing events (this time around 36) that were held in different Polish cities. Each tournament offered three qualifing spots and interesting boardgames as prizes funded by Carcassonne's publisher Bard. In the end, 106 people became eligible to play Saturday's final.

Rules are similar for tournaments in other countries, we start with 4-player, 5 rounds (depends on numbers of participants) Swiss system, followed by quaterfinals played by best 8 players in 2-players duels. We play with base Carcassonne 2.0 (with Abbot sitting out).

From my personal perspective... This is gonna be my 3rd attempt at grabbing the title, I was runner up in '14, followed by painful upset in 1/8 finals last year, both times I fell victim to the eventual winner, Tomasz Preuss.

I don't like first stage of competition at all... I'm afraid of 4-players games, it can be fun, but it's too big gamble for my taste (thanks Danisthirty for your "Tips for a 4-player Basic Game", it's so useful). Last year I ended on 9th place after this stage, and I've qualified for knock-out stage only because organizers bent rules and started 2nd stage with best 16 (lots of guys had the same score around 8th place). If I make it alive, I will be so relieved...

This year, I played qualifing event June 1st in Warsaw. It was smooth sail for me, I grabbed 1st place. I also shared knowledge of JCloister with fellow Polish competitors, which resulted with creation of Polish Carcassone Facebook group page, where we share infos on tournament and arrange games for JCloister, iOS... This way I could help them with practice, but I also scored first win against Tomek which relaxes me a little bit.

You know me a little, I'm good Carcassonne player, but this year I believe I have more relaxed and playful approach, and this time I'll start games as a winner of Carcassonne Central's World Cup! I hope to update you with news along the way.

PS I'd like to play at least few quality practise games each evening before Saturday. Maybe you'd like to join...

Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2905.0

danisthirty · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2016, 09:02:32 PM »

Thanks for the info Merlin, and good luck with the tournament! Incredible to think that your tournament will have 106 competitors, and even more so to think that they all had to qualify via regional tournaments! Finding a national champion every year must be a full time job for someone as evidently Carcassonne is a very popular game in Poland....

Looking forward to seeing your write-up after the competition.

As for practice, I do keep popping on to the chat room every now and again but you're either not there or playing someone else whenever I'm there!

Merlin_89 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2016, 01:31:02 PM »

I know that over 100 qualifiers sound impressive, but in the end I suspect that maybe around 60 of them could show up (based on observations from last year)... And you can always bet that group of constant players will come no matter what. You have to commit at least a little bit and make the trip, but we'll see. For me, it's a treat and good excuse to visit Cracow. And yes, Bard (publisher) does good work with Carcassonne, but true merit for organizing local qualies goes to local board games stores.

Halfling · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2016, 07:17:16 PM »

Good luck Merlin

jma03 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2016, 07:59:50 AM »

Good Luck!!
I hope you hace a nice tournament!!

Merlin_89 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:03:12 AM »

Few teases from Cracow... Photos on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickrawczyk/

Whenever I come here, I'm completely stunned by this city! What do you think about our Wawel's Dragon (it breathes fire for real!)?

Carcassonne games start in 2 hours... Maybe this prehistoric beast will sway odds/tiles in my favour...

danisthirty · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2016, 07:27:08 AM »

You have a new follower

Good luck!

danisthirty · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2016, 06:14:17 PM »

Any news? How did it go?

MrNumbers · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2016, 08:44:36 AM »

Polish Carcassonne tournament was won by the same person (also Winner-2015 and -2014).

jma03 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2016, 11:27:25 AM »

Buffff
incredible, that's complicated.
he has to be a brutal player

danisthirty · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2016, 11:42:59 PM »

3 national wins in a row is quite something. But Merlin is a very strong player too, I'm sure he would have given him a run for his money if he got as far as the final...