Thursday, November 30, 2023

Preview: The 2023 Championship, December 2, 2023


He sees you when you're winning,
He knows when your hands shake,
He knows if you Duel bad or good,
So Duel good for the Championship's sake!

You better watch out...you better not DIE...you better be renown...I'm telling you why...'CAUSE THE 2023 CHAMPIONSHIP IS COMING TO TOWN!!!

LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

This the biggest Duel of the year, where only the best of the best from the past eleven months are invited to engage in fantasy combat with characters from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away!  The first chairs are given to those who claimed a trophy during the calendar year.  The last remaining spots are parsed out to the top ranked professionals.  The cream of the crop!  

And we saved the most complex game board in the league for the 12 savants trying to win the Vader trophy:  the Eravana Cargo Hold!  That's right - besides a dozen murderous Duelers, there will be two RATHTARS wandering the board that can't be killed but have NO PROBLEM devouring any character that moves.  *chef's kiss*

The 2023 Championship will be, simply put...EPIC!!!

HISTORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP DUELS:

2022 - Evan won with Count Dooku in the Emperor's Throne Room
2021 - Rob won with Jango Fett in the Carbon Freezing Chamber
2020 - Ben H. won with Boba Fett in the Naboo Reactor Pit
2019 - Ian won with Darth Maul in the Emperor's Throne Room
2018 - Ben H. won with Jango Fett on the Kamino Platform
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 CHAMPIONSHIP DUELERS:

The Duelers and seating during a normal match are randomized by who can respond to the invite fastest and a pick a wooden spool out of a too-small box, but not the Championship!  You have to play your way in, and Duelers are seated based on how well they Dueled this year.  Let's meet them!

Chair 12 - Riley E.  This high school sophomore Dueled 9 times in 2023 but barely made the cut despite a respectable ranking.  Her best finish this year was third place at the Imperial March.

Chair 11 - Evan.  Evan scored one of the most amazing first-career-win's in league history by winning the 2022 Championship last year.  He's defending his trophy from the eleventh chair.  He played six times in 2023, with three 4th place finishes.

Chair 10 - Curtis.  With so many various winners in 2023, Curtis was sweating whether he'd make the December table.  He played eight times this year, with his best finish in second place at the Fall Brawl.

Chair 9 - Grant D.  He's one of just three Duelers at the table to appear in the first Championship match.  This league veteran played six times in 2023, with his best finish in second place at the Valentine's Duel.

Chair 8 - Penny.  She only played once this year, as an emergency backup.  But in just her fourth career Duel she won Fight Night, her second ever victory.

Chair 7 - Miguel.  This Ivy League Dueler retired in May but is coming back to Waco to claim his rightful seat at the table thanks to his win at the Valentine's Duel.  He played three times in 2023.

Chair 6 - Michael.  He played nine times over the past eleven months, but he was the first person to punch his ticket for the 2023 Championship when he won A New Hope.

Chair 5 - Kat.  She stayed out of the spotlight for most of the Fall, but a win at Twin Sun Slam #2 already guaranteed her spot in the December Duel.

Chair 4 - Julia.  Julia was on the bubble for making the Championship until she took home a victory at Thanksdueling!  She Dueled six times this year.

Chair 3 - Isaiah.  The rookie sensation will turn professional at the Championship.  His outstanding debut included wins at CL Training and the Fall Brawl.

Chair 2 - Ian.  Across eight games played in 2023 Ian secured wins at Twin Sun Slam #1 and Doubleheader #1 and was just one of three Duelers with multiple wins.  

Chair 1 - Rob.  He played in twelve Duels, plus a guest appearance as the rancor, this year.  He was the only Dueler to win three times (The Imperial March, Duel of the Fates, and Doubleheader #2).  

MEET THE CHARACTERS:

Similar to the Duelers for the Championship game, the best characters of 2023 will be featured too.  These are the 12 characters (six light side, six dark side) who either won a Duel or were top ranked.  The dark side actually had more than six winners, so we decided based on ranking of those who won.

Light Side - Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, The Mandalorian, Lando Calrissian, Princess Leia, and Rey.

Dark Side - Supreme Leader Snoke, Boba Fett, Jango Fett, Darth Vader, General Grievous, and Cad Bane.

If that doesn't get you hyped I'm not sure you read the blog all the way to this sentence.  Everyone is free to come and watch the Championship Duel this Saturday at 7:30PM in the North Village Classroom.  One person will be named the victor!

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