Author Topic: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015 (Read 33773 times)

Decar · « **Reply #60 on:** October 17, 2015, 05:04:42 AM »

"No I don't really play Carcassonne either......I live and breath it"

MrNumbers · « **Reply #61 on:** October 17, 2015, 06:32:22 AM »

At last I have time to write up my journey to Essen.
It was the first time when I drove to Essen by car and on all 4 days. The distance is about 1800 km. We started at Tuesday 17:30 and about 01:00 found a motel near Warsaw. At 07:00 on Wednesday we continued and expected to be in Duisburg (where our apartment was located) at 18:00. But some traffic jam, caused by accidents and road works let us arrive only at 21:30. Nevertheless, we where very excited, because first day usually is the most "purchasing" day

This year I got prepared for Spiel, I have read 31 (by that time) pages of Spiel 2015 Preview on BGG, printed out the map and marked all games I was interested in. So, before fan meeting at 12:30 I was already owner of some interesting games. I am not a fan of so called "heavy" games, so, except both new Carcassonnes, I bought "Ticket to Ride Map Collection: Volume 5 – United Kingdom & Pennsylvania" (must-have purchase, also received free promo Ticket to Ride: Orient Express"), "Celestia" and "Karuba".
Then it was time for a fan meeting, I met some of CarcF and CarcC members and we played new Carcassonne games.

I won my first game - Carcassonne: Über Stock und Stein

, but Udo Schmitz won the second one - Carcassonne: Star Wars.
I also took a photo of a Stormtrooper near HiG booth.

It was a surprise to know that Stormtrooper is played by some Chinese

On Friday I bought some small games: "8-28", "Taste of Poland" and "Brains".

On Saturday I had a game with Jere. Hi already made a detailed report on this game, so I only will publish a photo.

Same day I participated in Big Catan Game. I was part of making new Guinness record: over 1000 participants!

I didn't win, but it was fun

Sunday's big event is, of course, Carcassonne World championship. I even had a small chance to take part in it: in case of odd amount of participants additional one is called out from other people, but you have to be at least national vice-champion to qualify for this "additional" player. But, everyone showed up and they were 32 participants in total, so no luck this year. In two previous years there was odd amount of participants and additional player was called. Strange that Canada's participant didn't show up - organizers hadn't heard anything from him in last three weeks before the tournament.
British participant before the tournament (yes, Dan, I said "Hi" to him from you

) :

This is Latvian participant together with former and future champion from Greece:

Everything is ready for the championship:

All former Carcassonne champions:

Final game's last seconds:

Carcassonne World champion:

Final game was awesome! Pantelis managed to steal a farm from Takafumi with very last two tiles: consequently connecting first and second farmer, and won the game by 4 points! Very interesting game to watch!

I am already thinking about next year: I will definitely visit Essen in 2016, and hope to meet more CarcC and CarcF members, for example, I hope to see Dan in person at last!

kettlefish · « **Reply #62 on:** October 17, 2015, 07:54:47 AM »

jazbang, MrNumbers,
thanks for the great reports and photos.

danisthirty · « **Reply #63 on:** October 17, 2015, 11:42:04 AM »

Thanks for your report and for all those photos too MrNumbers, it looks like you had a fantastic time!

No doubt Essen 2016 will be upon us before we know it!

kettlefish · « **Reply #64 on:** October 17, 2015, 01:48:16 PM »

The first picture from MrNumbers:

The members meeting:
Outside from hall 1 - in the "restroom".
the members from left to right:
kettlefish - maik63de (admin at CarcF) - Safari - Benny - Udo (behind Benny)- Fan - bonsom (litetile) - Ratz65 (admin at CarcF) and Käpt'n Konrad (with the box in his hands)
------------------------------------------------
The 2nd picture from MrNumbers:

During my time in the "private" room from the HiG booth - the Stormtrooper came to the room - he needed some water - it was very hot in his cloth as a Stormtrooper. Sometimes he came inside only to shot at us and then he went outside to do again his job as a Stormtrooper.
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kettlefish · « **Reply #65 on:** April 29, 2016, 03:30:29 AM »

The YouTube video is now online from the "Spielezentrum Herne" - who organized the Carcassonne World Championship at Spiel 2015 in Essen.

Here is the link to the YouTube video: