Preview: May the 4th Be With You (May 4, 2020) AND Birthday Duel (May 5, 2020)

Riley Dueling with Mommy

Look at that precious face in her Star Wars onesie!  That was Riley's first Duel outside of the womb.  Sitting on Mommy's lap, thirsting for thermal detonators.  We started her young!  And now, a dozen years later, she's turning 12!!!

And how did she want to celebrate her special day? A 12-WAY DUEL.

To all of you future parents...this is the goal.  Start them young!  And one day, they will betray you and join another alliance.  It will hurt, but as you move your damage indicator to red, you'll also feel an immense sense of pride.

So we have two Duels, back to back:  our sixth annual May the 4th Be With You, as well as Riley's Birthday Duel, so we'll go ahead preview both of those at the same time!

HISTORY OF MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU:

2019 - Riley won with Emperor Palpatine in the Emperor's Throne Room
2018 - Rob won with Mace Windu in the Emperor's Throne Room
2017 - JD won with Yoda in the Emperor's Throne Room
2016 - Chris K . won with Jango Fett in the Emperor's Throne Room
2015 - Rob won with Jango Fett in the Carbon Freezing Chamber

MEET THE MAY THE 4TH DUELERS:

Chair #1 - Rob w/ Count Dooku - I know, I know, this looks totally shady.  I swear that's what the randomizer produced!  I also know it's my second game in a row with Dooku too.  I don't even like him!!!  I swear!

Chair #2 - Kaleb w/ Boba Fett - He last played with Boba Fett at the 2019 Fall Brawl and finished a respectable fifth place.  Kaleb has two top-three finishes in his last four battles.

Chair #3 - Christopher w/ Luke Skywalker - Christopher enters this match coming off a career-best second place finish at Duel of the Fates.  Better card luck would have meant victory...

Chair #4 - Ben H. w/ Mace Windu - After winning the Imperial March he cooled off with an eighth place finish at Duel of the Fates.  He'd love a second trophy.

Chair #5 - Ryan w/ Han Solo - Oh no!  This marks Ryan's third straight game with a shooter!  Don't feel sorry for him, though.  He piloted Boba Fett to a third and fifth place finish.

Chair #6 - Elliot w/ Yoda - This is Elliot's fourth straight Duel.  It's clear he has Dueling fever, and the only antidote is MORE DUELING.

Chair #7 - Nathan w/ Jango Fett - Well look at what the cat dragged in!  Welcome back Nathan!  The Hall of Famer is playing his first game since the 2019 Championship, where he finished sixth with Obi-Wan.

Chair #8 - Riley w/ Darth Maul - the defending May the 4th Champion and youngest winner ever would love to keep her trophy on birthday-eve.

Chair #9 - Troy w/ Darth Vader - the 2019 Singles Champion had a scheduling snafu and missed last month's Duel, but he's locked in and ready to add to his resume.

Chair #10 - Diego w/ Emperor Palpatine - poor Diego got jacked up when Ben flipped last game, causing Diego's Mace to finish in last.  He's hoping to rebound this time around.

Chair #11 - Rachel w/ Obi-Wan Kenobi - everybody's favorite Yoda cosplayer is a different Jedi this time.  This is her second career Duel and she's ready to make a splash.

Chair #12 - Rylie w/ Anakin Skywalker - she used Anakin two months ago and landed in fourth place.  Pair that with a second place finish at A New Hope and it's clear Rylie is all business in 2020.

BB-8 PREDICTS THE WINNER:

Well, everyone's favorite lil' roller droid has only been right twice this year.  Who does he have winning May the 4th?


Vader it is!  On to the next preview...

MEET THE BIRTHDAY DUELERS:

Chair #1 - Kaleb w/ Darth Maul - look out folks, it's on!  Kaleb has three top-five finishes in his last three Duels with a dark side character.

Chair #2 - Alex w/ Anakin Skywalker - three wins in his last six games!!!  The stats say, pound for pound, Alex could be the best Dueler in league history!

Chair #3 - Ryan w/ Mace Windu - the originator of the "Cohenour Run," Ryan is partnered again with his main-man Mace.  Be ready for the Whirlwinds!

Chair #4 - Christopher w/ Boba Fett - this marks the third time in his young career playing with Boba.  He's hoping to improve upon to seventh place finishes with the character.

Chair #5 - Curtis w/ Darth Vader - Curtis would love to add a second trophy to his 2020 total after winning the A New Hope Duel in convincing fashion.

Chair #6 - Diego w/ Obi-Wan Kenobi - this will mark Diego's fourth career Duel.  He has yet to draw a shooter.  Yet...

Chair #7 - Riley w/ Han Solo - good grief, what kind of birthday present is this???  Riley turns 12 and gets stuck with Han for her special Duel?  She'll be so jaded by 13...

Chair #8 - Rob w/ Emperor Palpatine - Rob's favorite GIF is the one with laughing Emperor with his hands out to his sides.  It's fate!

Chair #9 - Rylie w/ Yoda - this marks Rylie's first venture with Yoda.  The soon-to-be graduate apprentice is playing with the master!

Chair #10 - Troy w/ Jango Fett - Playing with Vader the night before, and now he has Jango too?  Those are the two top characters in the game!  Well done, Troy.

Chair #11 - Grant w/ Luke Skywalker - the good news for Grant is he didn't get Han Solo.  The bad news for Grant is this his THIRD time with Luke in the last FOUR games!!!

Chair #12 - Lucas w/ Count Dooku - Lucas righted the ship by finishing in the top half of the game last month after four Duels in a row finishing eighth or worse.

BB-8 PREDICTS THE WINNER:

I can't predict the winner, so who knows if BB's Monday pick was right.  Is he picking the birthday girl?



C'mon BB, it's for the kids!!!