Preview: The 2018 Championship - December 1, 2018

Dear friends, it is happening.  Across the galaxy forces are gathering.  Starships are setting their coordinates for the North Village Community Center.  Combatants are preparing for the final, EPIC, battle of the year.

Oh yes friends, it is nearly upon us.  THE 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP 12-WAY EPIC DUEL.

If you are new to this league you deserve a brief explanation about how the Championship works.  Normally the first twelve volunteers for a Duel get a spot guaranteed at the table, but the Championship is different.  For the Championship the top 12 ranked Duelers in the league get first opportunity to play.  And their spot around the table is determined by their ranking.  It is the toughest Duel of the year and not for the faint of heart.  For the first time in league history, the top 12 ranked Duelers for the Championship are all in for the December battle.  They are the best of the best, and one of them will walk out of the Community Center with a big ol' honkin' Darth Vader trophy for their effort.

HISTORY:

2017 - Austin won with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Carbon Freezing Chamber
2016 - Curtis won with Mace Windu on the Kamino Platform
2015 - Nathan won with Count Dooku in the Carbon Freezing Chamber
2014 - Ryan won with Boba Fett on the Kamino Platform

MEET THE DUELERS:

This preview post will maintain the Championship tradition of assigning a Duel Character most like their real life counter part!

Chair #12 - Luke R. - Luke hasn't finished below seventh place in 2018 and had a career best second place finish at January's A New Hope Duel.  He's the newest professional at the table, and because he also shares a name with this character, Luke's perfect avatar is... LUKE SKYWALKER.

Chair #11 - Curtis - Curtis took half a year off in 2018 and the league was fearful they had lost him forever.  Turns out he was just secretly growing a clone army of mini-Odle Duelers for the next Singles Tournament.  He has four top five finishes in 2018, he's cantankerous, and he has the beard to match his perfect character...COUNT DOOKU.

Chair #10 - JD - Nobody had a better fall semester than JD.  Four of his five Duels were top four finishes, including victories at CL Training and Fight Night.  It was a good rebound for JD after a disappointing start to 2018.  He's an incredibly consistent Dueler with strength and wisdom to match.  That makes his perfect character...MACE WINDU.

Chair #9 - Ben H. - Poor Ben nearly suffered a crisis of confidence after his wife won her first Duel in just her fourth game played.  But after an incredible eight top-five finishes in 2018 he finally brought home his first trophy at last month's Thanksdueling! battle.  He's a confident scoundrel, not particularly trusting, and has a magnet in his hand when it comes to picking his perfect character...HAN SOLO.

Chair #8 - Chris K. - A founding member of the league, Dueling with us ever since 2014, Chris only got into four games this year.  He's turned into a bit of a hermit, but look out when he plays.  Three of his four games featured top five finishes, including a second place at Twin Sun Slam #2.  He's a warrior poet, an elder statesman, making his perfect character...YODA.

Chair #7 - Alex C. - We don't have an official award for this, but Alex could easily be described as the rookie of the year in 2018.  He turned professional this calendar year and notched four top-three finishes, including victories at Twin Sun Slam #1 and Doubleheader #1.  It's almost like he plays better when there are clone Duels on the same night!  His moral flexibility on the board makes him the perfect...BOBA FETT.

Chair #6 - Joel - By sheer force of will Joel has established himself as an elite Dueler in the league.  He has five top-three finishes in 2018, including victories at the Birthday Surprise and Doubleheader #1.  He's young, confident, talented, but sometimes forgets he needs the high ground to succeed.  That makes him the perfect...ANAKIN SKYWALKER.

Chair #5 - Kaleb - He's a literal Hall of Famer who returned to the league in 2018 when we thought he might be gone, and he's maintained his dominance.  He had five top-five finishes this year and has still never finished last place in a Duel, which is insanely talented.  His ability to outlast his opponents makes him the perfect...DARTH VADER.

Chair #4 - Rob - The originator of the 12-Way Duel had a real up and down 2018, almost like he was wearing a malfunctioning jet pack.  He logged seven top-five finishes, including victories at The Imperial March and May the 4th, but also placed dead last in three Duels.  2018 also marked the debut of his daughter Riley in the league, making his paternal pride the perfect...JANGO FETT.

Chair #3 - Ryan - He ended an epic winless streak in the league when he won the Valentine's Duel back in February.  It was his first victory since the 2014 Championship.  He didn't play as often as usual in 2018 but he still tagged on two third place finishes this fall.  Nobody is better at the evil machinations of the game than Ryan, making him the perfect...EMPEROR PALPATINE.

Chair #2 - Ian - Everyone thinks of Ian as the enforcer on the board, making sure play is timely and words are honored.  His strong play makes him perfect for the role, with six top-five finishes in 2018 including a victory at Duel of the Fates.  I don't think there's anyone who enjoys making a kill more than Ian, making him a good...DARTH MAUL.

Chair #1 - Grant - ...and you're number one ranked, number one seated Dueler is Grant!  Nobody had a better 2018 than Grant.  He had six (!) top four finishes this year, including wins at Let the Wookie Win and Twin Sun Slam #2.  His lowest placing this year was at last month's Thanksdueling!, where he "only" finished ninth.  He is a quiet grinder, a logical thinker, and has a knack for making the right call at the right time.  The number one ranked Dueler deserves the best character...OBI-WAN KENOBI!

Wow - that's quite a list!  One of these fine folks will become the fifth ever Championship winner, which one will it be?!?

TREY REY PREDICTS THE WINNER:

Let's move on to our favorite three-headed prognosticator, Trey Rey.  Trey Rey, who you got winning the Championship???

Big Rey:  SILENCE YOU FOOL!
Lil' Rey:  we're under attack!!!
Lego Rey:  oUR PoOr PicKs haVe uS In daNGeR!

I'm so sorry!  Who on earth would want to attack the three of...

Big Rey:  TOO LATE - THE NEW ORDER XMAS AT-AT FOUND US!  RUN!!!

Good Lord!!!  That's terrifying!  It's so much bigger than the three of you!  But wait, before you retreat, I really need your pick...

Lil' Rey:  you fool, we don't have time for this!  fine, we like anakin to win it all...

Thanks Trey Rey!  Good luck escaping that monstrosity, let's take a closer look at this XMAS AT-AT!

What a horrifying, but majestic creation.  What kind of Dueling lunatic would actually put one of those up in their front lawn!?!  Wait a second, is there something...or SOMEONE...riding that thing...?

Kylo Ren:  You're so lonely... So afraid to Duel... At night, desperate to sleep...
You imagine a victory... I see it... I see the character you pick... Han Solo...
You feel like he's the father Trey Rey never had. He would have disappointed her.

Get out of my head!!!

TO BE CONTINUED...!

(Trey Rey is 0-5 in predictions this year)

Well fellow Duelers...the biggest Duel of the year is this Saturday night at 7PM - come on out to the North Village Community Center to see history made and a new champion crowned!