2025 Championship - December 6, 2025

Carbon Freezing Chamber via Dagobah

Oh.  My.  GOODNESS!!!  The 2025 Championship will go down in league history as one of the most memorable Duels we've ever battled - and also historic!!!  There was high drama throughout, crazy tactics, and maybe most remarkable of all...the whole thing was done by 9:30PM!!!  That duel was MAYBE two hours and fifteen minutes.  It was all glorious and head-spinning for sure.

Smile if you intend to win the '25 Championship!

The hallmark of the Championship blog recaps is that each Dueler poses with the card that eliminated them.  So let's jump into it!!!

12th Place

Dueler:  Caden

Character:  Princess Leia

Card That Killed Him:  Force Lightning

Why He Died:  The most consequential move of the game was Josiah's Rey deciding to betray the light side by attacking it and Backflipping to the dark side!  Caden was his punching bag for that move, and the Emperor (Grant) made the kill shot.  BRUTAL.

11th Place

Dueler:  Ally

Character:  Mace Windu

Card That Killed Her:  Throw Debris

Why She Died:  By the time Rey flipped (literally!) and the light side realized Jillian's Clone Commandos were never on their side, they were doomed.  Ally's Mace fought valiantly but she couldn't withstand the whole dark side.  On the bright side, she turns professional at her next Duel!

10th Place

Dueler:  James

Character:  Lando Calrissian

Card That Killed Him:  Tobias Beckett 4-1

Why He Died:  His fellow light side alliance tried so hard to protect him with their minors, but they were overwhelmed.  James did set up the craziest play of the game (keep reading!) when he switched places with Curtis' Tarkin.  But Michael's Tobias Beckett eliminated his new neighbor in tenth.

9th Place

Dueler:  Josiah

Character:  Rey

Card That Killed Him:  All Too Easy

Why He Died:  ...the wombo-combo!!!  It's been many Duels since we've seen the Emperor (Grant) play You Will Die and Darth Vader (Riley) hit that victim with All Too Easy!  A.T.E. is a 20 point attack if it goes undefended...and poor Josiah had no cards with which to defend!!!  INSANE!

8th Place

Dueler:  Jordyn

Character:  Bo-Katan Kryze

Card That Killed Her:  You May Fire When Ready

Why She Died:  The craziest moment of the night came courtesy of Curts' Grand Moff Tarkin, who after being attacked by The Stranger (Justin) played BOTH Y.M.F.W.R.s against EVERY CHARACTER STILL ON THE BOARD!!!  The second card splattered poor Jordyn/Bo-Katan.

7th Place

Dueler:  Curtis

Character:  Grand Moff Tarkin

Card That Killed Him:  The Stranger 5-1

Why He Died: ...because he attacked every character on the board twice, killing six of them!!!  That was the biggest killing spree in league history since Kaleb's infamous Trash Compactor victory.  Credit Justin, though, who finished what he started by killing the giddy-with-bloodlust Curtis.

6th Place

Dueler:  Jillian

Character:  Clone Commandos

Card That Killed Her:  her own Magnetic Thermal Detonator!!!

Why She Died:  to paraphrase Frank Sinatara...she did it her way!!  Jillian's Clone Commandos really got jacked up by the Tarkin attacks, and she quickly lost two of her three after that.  Facing certain death, she decided to go out with a bang - LITERALLY - by blowing herself up while damaging others!

5th Place

Dueler:  Justin

Character:  The Stranger

Card That Killed Him:  It's Been A Ride, Babe

Why He Died:  In the final five it looked like Justin was secure in his alliance, but that's when Grant's Emperor put the target on The Stranger!  Rob's Maul was shocked but started the barrage.  It would be Michael's Val, though, who proved most disruptive when she got to both of them and blew them up!

4th Place

Dueler:  Michael

Character:  Tobias Beckett

Card That Killed Him:  Darth Vader 5-1

Why He Died:  On a board filled with big blades, Michael deftly navigated the wily Beckett.  But the Tarkin attacks damaged him for sure, and when he locked horns with Grant's Emperor Palpatine, he was cooked.  Riley put the kill shot on her table neighbor.

3rd Place

Dueler:  Grant

Character:  Emperor Palpatine

Card That Killed Him:  Darth Vader 4-2

Why He Died:  It was apparent the whole night the only two Duelers who knew what was going on were Grant and Riley.  But as he moved against Rob/Maul, Rob begged Riley to use him against the Emperor.  They both attacked him, but Vader got the character trophy.

2nd Place

Dueler:  Rob

Character:  Darth Maul

Card That Killed Him:  Wrath 

Why He Died:  Rob was playing from the back of his heels all night, but using a Blinding Surge against Val without killing her and her subsequent suicide bomb doomed his fate.  He barely eked ahead of Grant's Emperor...only to face his own daughter, who used double Wraths to take him down!

1st Place

Dueler:  Riley

Character:  Darth Vader

How She Won:  By being king/queen of the dark side!!!

What an incredible week for Riley!  Not only was she accepted to Baylor (!!!), but she won her third career Duel and THE 2025 CHAMPIONSHIP!!!  She is also the first woman to win a Championship!!!  What a time for the league - our last three Duel winners are all female - incredible!  This also moved Darth Vader ahead of Darth Maul for the all-time wins leader on the character side.

Final Order of Finish:

12 - Caden/Princess Leia

11 - Ally/Mace Windu

10 - James/Lando Calrissian

9 - Josiah/Rey

8 - Jordyn/Bo-Katan Kryze

7 - Curtis/Grand Moff Tarkin

6 - Jillian/Clone Commandos

5 - Justin/The Stranger

4 - Michael/Tobias Beckett

3 - Grant/Emperor Palpatine

2 - Rob/Darth Maul

1 - Riley/Darth Vader

I'm not kidding - that was a LEGENDARY Duel!  It was one for the ages for sure.  Thanks to all who played - and for a great 2025!!!  We've got some big things planned for 2026...including the debut of four NEW characters at January's A New Hope Duel.  That will be the weekend after we get back for CL Training.  Until then...

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  Pew Pew!!!

 

Preview: The 2025 Championship - December 6, 2025

 

I'm not sure how we've reached this point, but here we are, at the end of the year and rolling into December for the 12th annual CHAMPIONSHIP DUEL!!!  This is the biggest Duel of the year - the top Duelers of 2025 have earned a spot at the table to take home the best trophy in the league - the Darth Vader Championship Gold!

It's been an eclectic year of winners and good variety of winners to boot.  There's nothing like it!  Super Bowl?  World Series?  Daytona?  Psst!  They don't hold a candle to the pressure of the Championship Duel!!!  And did I mention it will be played on the Carbon Freezing Chamber...the scariest board there is?!?!

HISTORY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP DUEL:

2024 - Elliot won with Cad Bane in the Carbon Freezing Chamber

2023 - Rob won with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Eravana Cargo Hold

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 DUELERS:

Unlike the other Duels during the year, the seats at the Championship are seeded!  It's based on your wins during the calendar year and your spot in the rankings.  One of these 12 Duelers will be your 2025 Champion!!!

12th Chair - Eric.  The loveable and hilarious Eric turned professional this fall and squeaked into the Championship with a little help from a declined RSVP or two.  Don't take his talents for granted, though!  He has three top-five finishes in 2025, including third place at CL Training.

11th Chair - Josiah.  The HRC veteran played in eight different Duels in 2025, demonstrating his commitment to the league and the search for his first victory.  His season-best finish was in fourth place at the Valentine's Duel in February.

10th Chair - Justin.  He's been very active this fall, only missing one Duel so far.  He has two top-five finishes this year, including second place at Doubleheader #1, where he almost defended his trophy.  He knows what it takes to get to the winner's circle!

9th Chair - Jordyn.  The Teal mafia is in full effect at this year's Championship, including Jordyn.  She turned professional in 2025.  Her highlights include two top-four finishes this year, with the top finish being third place at January's A New Hope Duel.

8th Chair - Riley E.  The junior member of the league is in the last year of her high school eligibility!  2025 has been fantastic for Riley, with three top-three finishes, including second place at The Imperial March (w/ Han Solo!) and Doubleheader #2.  Will the Championship be career win number 3??

7th Chair - Michael.  The new dad only logged two Duels in 2025, thanks to the arrival of his new padawan.  But Michael is a league vet and not be trifled with.  He's especially thankful Fennec Shand won't be a featured character.

6th Chair - Ally.  She's the only amateur playing in the Championship...but with good reason!  She won Thanksdueling! last month with her expert play of Lando Calrissian.  The hotshot rookie and Teal mafia member is already making a name for herself on the Dueling circuit!

5th Chair - Jillian.  This marks Jillian's second career Championship Duel, and she's hoping it goes a lot better than her first!  She earned her spot in spectacular fashion, though, winning the all-new character Duel in October with Grand Moff Tarkin!

4th Chair - Grant.  Grant was scorching hot in 2025, with four top-four finishes.  The jewel in that crown, of course, was his first place finish with Bo-Katan Kryze at the May the 4th Be With You Duel.  He was also second place at October's Fight Night.

3rd Chair - James.  The best student Dueler in the league right now is undisputedly James!  He scored two wins in 2025.  His first was with Princess Leia at the Valentine's Duel in February.  His second was at CL Training with The Stranger.  Is he the Don of the Teal Mafia?!?

2nd Chair - Curtis.  Everyone's favorite facilities manager finished 2025 with five top-four finishes (and that's not even counting the 12x12-Way Weekend!), and he took home two trophies.  He won both The Imperial March (Tobias Beckett) and Doubleheader #1 (Clone Commandos).  Could Championship #2 be on his horizon??

1st Chair - Rob.  Rob was the first to punch his ticket to the Championship...all the way back in January at A New Hope (Darth Vader)!  He followed that up with back to back wins at Doubleheader #2 (Emperor Palpatine) and the Fall Brawl (Mace Windu).  He would love to be the first Dueler with three Championships on his shelf!

MEET THE CHARACTERS:

Similar to the Duelers, only those characters who won a Duel or are top-ranked get to be used for the Championship.  And with all the new characters that have flooded the league, we had 11 distinct winners and...Rey!  (We still keep the balance of six light side/six dark side).  So here's who will be playing...

Oh doggie, that's a rogue's gallery for sure!!!  Which Dueler/character combo will be crowned Champion???  The match goes down Saturday, December 6th, at 7PM!!!

Until then...PEW PEW!

2024 Championship - December 6, 2024

Carbon Freezing Chamber (via Dagobah)

The best and the brightest of the 2024 Dueling year gathered on Friday night to award the Darth Vader trophy to a victor among victors.  Only those who won a Duel in the past calendar year and/or who were ranked high enough got a seat at the table.  The mood was light but determined - every Dueler there wanted to be the Champion!  Alas, only one would pull it off...

Who shall be crowned champion?

A tradition of the Championship recap blog is to post the Duelers with the card that killed them.  It's just a little extra salt in the wound!

12th place - Riley B.

Character - Rey

Card that killed him - 5-point attack from Grievous

Though Riley has moved into a reserve player status after graduating last spring, his win this summer promised him a spot at the Championship.  Julia's Armorer defecting to the dark side out of the gate left the light side deficient.  Riley tried to mind the gap by boldly moving Rey to the front of the battleline, but he couldn't survive Alex's General Grievous.

11th place - Julia

Character - The Armorer

Card that killed her - Justice

The big news of the night was Julia announcing to the table that she and Michael are expecting their first child in May!  Congrats Julia!!!  She got stuck with an unfortunate starting spot but defected early to the dark side.  A second flip much later in the game by Michael unintentionally left Julia exposed to the last stand of the light side.  Grant's Luke hammered her with Justice.

10th place - Ian

Character - Sol

Card that killed him - Hero of the Empire

Ian was the defacto leader of light side alliance and did his best to hold his troops together.  But with a non-shooting minor character and a starting position in the back corner, he was limited in what he could do.  He did help coordinate Julia's ouster, but the presence of Justin's Orson Krennic proved too much and the #1 chair was excused in tenth.

9th place - Grant

Character - Luke Skywalker

Card that killed hi - 2-point attack from Anakin

One of the big moves of the first half of the Championship was Grant playing I Will Not Fight You on Rob's Darth Maul.  That sent the whole dark side into a scramble as they tried to save the horned sith.  Everyone wanted Leia off the board but she was nearly impossible to kill until Michael's Wrath.  Still, it must have felt good to use Justice before being eliminated.

8th place - Jonah

Character - Bo-Katan Kryze

Card that killed him - Faster Than You

Jonah was low-key the MVP for the light side, deftly using Bo and the Night Owls to deliver damage or provide cover when their team was in a pinch.  His Teal buddy Alex kept giving him the "flip" hand signal, but Jonah was noble and stuck to his side of the board.  Even better?  This was Jonah's sixth Duel, meaning he's now a professional Dueler.  Congrats Jonah!

7th place - Alex G.

Character - General Grievous

Card that killed him - 5-point attack from Kylo Ren

When Michael's Anakin became the second flipper to the dark side, that meant an original alliance member was getting squeezed out.  Alex drew the short straw, as folks were nervous about him, especially after seeing how well he played Grievous at last month's Thanksdueling!.  He was justifiably disappointed by the betrayal.  

6th place - Justin

Character - Orson Krennic

Card that killed him - Athletic Surge

Justin proved quite pesky for the light side in the early stages of the game, as Orson and his Death Troopers gave the Jedi and friends all they could handle.  At the final six, negotiations became quite tense as folks were trying to figure out who to take to the final three and beyond.  Justin was loyal to Elliot/Cad and Rob/Maul throughout, but in a surprise move Rob unloaded on him!

5th place - Curtis

Character - Reva - Third Sister

Card that killed him - Athletic Surge

Curtis was heroic in the first half of the game, using his Purge Troopers to protect Rob's depleted Darth Maul.  But in the second half of the game he was clearly aligned with Jordann/Kylo.  He and Rob tried to turn the table against each other, and he was shocked when Michael turned against him too.  But Rob got the death blow when he used his final action after killing Justin to get Curtis too.

4th place - Rob

Character - Darth Maul

Card that killed him - I Know What I Have To Do

Rob went from nearly being the first one dead to the final four after a double elimination of two characters in one turn.  That proved problematic as he attempted to maneuver into the top three.  Neither Michael nor Jordann would work with him and Elliot couldn't stick his neck out for him.  The 2023 Champion couldn't survive and got destroyed by Kylo's best card.

3rd place - Jordann

Character - Kylo Ren

Card that killed her - Flame Gauntlet with a side of Bounty

The best dressed Dueler played a deft and strategic game all night but fell short when her rotating allegiances between Elliot and Michael ultimately led to them teaming up against her.  It took a looooooong time to eliminate her, which is a credit to both Kylo Ren and the great way Jordann was piloting him.  Her first win remains elusive but within reach!

2nd place - Michael

Character - Anakin Skywalker

Card that killed him - No Shame In It

In the history of our league the "second flipper," the frowned upon moniker of the second person who jumps a sinking ship late in the process, is usually the first to go in the remaining alliance.  However, Michael moved to the front of the line and nearly took the whole thing down.  A determined bounty hunter and an unlucky run of Padme cards at the end doomed him in second, though.

1st place - Elliot!!!

Character - Cad Bane

How he won - ...he's Batman!

Elliot had a terrible starting spot on the board, a weaker character, and constantly shifting alliance dynamics throughout the game.  But he also had Cad Freakin' Bane - a slick and slippery villain made for the tensions of a Championship.  He kept his head down, was never the perceived threat, and was always on the right side of the numbers.  Well done on career victory number two, Elliot!!!

What a night!  That was some high caliber Dueling that went late into Saturday morning.  Shoutout to Cad Bane, too, who becomes the first new character to reach 4 wins.  That's impressive - he's only one win away from tying original character Luke Skywalker for 12th place in wins!

Thank you everyone for a fantastic 2024!  What a year - one of the most exciting in league history.  Let's carry that mojo into 2025.  We're tentatively planning the January Duel - A New Hope - for Satruday, January 17th.  Announcements will go out for that in the new year...

Until then, may the force be with you.  Always.

 

Preview: 2024 Championship - December 6, 2024

 

How are we already in the last month of 2024???  Where did the thermal detonators time go??  December heralds the most important Duel of the year, though!  That's right - it's time for the 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP!  This Duel isn't a first-come, first-serve basis.  You have to earn your spot at the table by winning during the calendar year or being ranked high enough if you didn't.  And we have an exciting and dynamic range of Duelers this year, from grizzled veterans to up and coming padawans.  

The Championship is our World Series, Super Bowl, and Oscars all rolled into one!  And it goes down this Friday night!

CHAMPIONSHIP DUEL HISTORY:

2023 - Rob won with Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Eravana Cargo Hold

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 DUELERS:

Instead of random seating like normal Duels, the Championship features an intentional order of Duelers, with the top chair going to the best Dueler of the year headed into the Championship.  Let's see who has a chance for glory!

Chair #12 - Julia.  Nobody breathed a heavier sigh of relief than Julia's at last month's Thanksdueling!  Riley E. almost secured a spot in the Championship with a win, but her second place finish guaranteed Julia got the last chair.  Her best finish in 2024 was second place at the Valentine's Duel.

Chair #11 - Michael.  Michael would love to get back into the win column at the Championship.  He has four top-five finishes in 2024, including two second places.  His most recent was at the Doubleheaders back in August.  

Chair #10 - Curtis.  He's still going through a rough patch, as his winless streak is at three years now.  He did secure two top-four finishes in 2024 though, with his best performance at the Power Coupling bachelor's party Duel last Spring, where he finished third.

Chair #9 - Jordann.  Jordann is the only Dueler at the table who has yet to claim a career victory, but she has certainly come close and has been a mainstay this year.  She had five top-five finishes in 2024.  That includes her near miss in second place at the Imperial March.

Chair #8 - Jonah.  The 2024 Championship will mark Jonah's transition from rookie to veteran Dueler!  Though he's had several rough finishes in his early career, there's no taking away his win at the October Fight Night!

Chair #7 - Justin.  This rookie Dueler and first year CL has only played three times in 2024, but one of those Duels was his first place finish with Rey at Doubleheader #1!  That's just the kind of way to become a legend in this league.

Chair #6 -  Riley B.  The recently retired professional is still in the Waco area, so in addition to pinch-hitting for us a couple of times this year, he went ahead and won himself a chair at the Championship with his victory at game 2 of the Twin Sun Slam.

Chair #5 - Elliot.  He once held the record for most Duels played without a win, but Elliot shattered that stigma when he finally brought home the bacon at the Valentine's Duel!  He'll need to shake the rust loose for the Championship.

Chair #4 - Alex G.  Not since the career of our most recent Hall of Famer, Duncan, have we seen a Dueler reach two career wins so quickly!  Alex won his debut Duel at CL Training back in August, and just two games later scored his second victory at Doubleheader #2!  Could he also bring home the Championship in his first year of play?

Chair #3 - Grant.  After suffering a years-long winless streak of his own, Grant burst his losing streak in a big way with the ultra-rare back to back wins in 2024.  The first was at the Power Coupling, with his second at Duel of the Fates.  He's got a mess of top three finishes this year to boot.  He's scorching hot!

Chair #2 - Rob.  He is the defending winner of last year's Championship, his second time in his Dueling career he got to hold the Vader trophy.  He was no slouch in 2024 either, with wins at both the Twin Sun Slam and the Fall Brawl.

Chair #1 - Ian.  Nobody rang the victory bell more in 2024 than Ian!  He racked up three - YES THREE - wins in 2024.  He was atop the winner's podium at January's A New Hope, May the 4th Be With You, and again last month at Thanksdueling!  What a run!

MEET THE CHARACTERS:

Something else fun that we do for the Championship is uses characters who won Duels that year and not just randomly generated names.  Here are the 12 characters throwing down at the Championship!

 

None of these characters are slouches, and they'll all be in the Carbon Freezing Chamber this Friday night at 8PM!  Swing on by the North Village Fine Arts Studio to watch it all live!