Preview: Thanksdueling! - November 11, 2017

It's been over a month since our last Duel, Fight Night, and things have changed.  It's much colder and harsher now.  What was once living is now lifeless and detached.  And I'm not even talking about the weather...I'm talking about the hearts of our Duelers!  Hey-ooooo!

Just kidding!!!  Kind of...

But the calendar doesn't lie.  It is November and that means it's time for THANKSDUELING!  It's the only Duel that ends in an exclamation point, so you know it's exciting.  It's also the last Duel before the 2017 Championship, so folks are jockeying to be in position to make a run at the biggest Duel of the year.  But that's next month, let's focus on Thankdueling! and see who won in years past:

HISTORY:

2016 - JD won with Yoda
2015 - Nathan won with Darth Vader
2014 - Alex won with Boba Fett

MEET THE DUELERS:

Our tradition for the Thanksdueling! preview is to list what our Duelers are thankful for this year.  So here we go...

Andrew - after his 5th place finish at Fight Night, Andrew has four Duels under his belt and has improved from 12th place to two 9th places finishes and now 5th.  Andrew is thankful for upward trajectories.

Austin - though Austin finished a disappointing 10th place with Yoda at Fight Night, he was glad he wasn't playing with Han Solo, whom he had controlled in his previous three Duels.  Austin is thankful for any character besides Han.

Ben - he played in his second career Duel at Fight Night, but got stuck with Han Solo in the Emperor's Throne Room and finished dead last.  Ben is thankful for a fresh start.

Chris - do you know a fun game to play?  Whisper under your breath to Chris about how slow some Duelers are, or point out alliances who can't operate without making group decisions on every turn.  He loves it!  Chris is thankful for fast Duelers and/or righteous retribution.

Grant - he took the two Duels in October off but is back in action for Thanksdueling!  Here's something weird:  Grant has been a Fett in six of his last eight Duels.  Grant is thankful for bounty hunters.

JD - we're nearing the end of an era.  Thanksdueling! marks the last official travelling trophy JD needs to make for our annual Duels.  He'll probably add one more for movie premiere Duels, but that should be about it.  JD is thankful for gold paint fumes.

Joel - in Joel's last three appearances he's finished first, third, and first again at Fight Night.  That's crazy good!  Joel is thankful for mantles, where he displays all of his trophies.

Kaleb - he missed both October Duels but that doesn't change the fact Kaleb is still the number one ranked Dueler!  He dethroned Rob who sat in first for months.  Kaleb is thankful for becoming a professional Dueler.

Kat - this amateur Dueler has logged three Duels this semester and is already tied for first in those rankings.  Her third place finish at Fight Night was a master class in jumping from a sinking ship.  Kat is thankful for scaring the heck out of those who Duel against her.

Rob - since winning the first Doubleheader Duel in August, Rob has been in a funk, not finishing higher than 7th place since then.  Rob is thankful for top six finishes, even if he can't remember what they look like.

Ryan - he hasn't played since he finished second place with Luke Skywalker at the Fall Brawl.  But who are we kidding?  He LOVES LUKE SKYWALKER.  Ryan is thankful for Children of the Corn jokes.

Stephen - in Stephen's last four Duels he's only played with characters that have "Darth" in their name.  That includes two second place finishes and a 4th.  Stephen is thankful for Darth Vader and/or Maul.

PEZ VADER PREDICTS THE WINNER:

"Tear this ship apart until you've found
those candy corns!"

The Dark Lord of Candy *nearly* got his Mace Windu pick right last month, but he won Ian's birthday surprise instead of Fight Night.  That brings his record to 1-3 on the year.  He likes Dooku for Thanksdueling.

Well folks, in just a couple of days we'll know who our Thanksdueling! winner is - check back on Sunday for the recap!