Wednesday 7 November 2018

2018 Spring Tournament Final Swiss Round

I'm playing in the Vassal Spring Tournament (also known as the "Autumn" tournament. Phhhbt. Whatever).

There are three separate pools, for Europe, North America West, and North America East. The top players from each pool after four rounds go into the finals, along with a fourth player - the one with the next highest tournament points values.

The match-ups for round four were just announced, and here is my hot take the top lists:

NA West

Top of NAW with 29 TPs and 1002 MOV is PT106, who is flying a 5/6 Motti with ISD and Demo, Ciena Ree (17 squadron points).

PT aka Paul has been flying squadronless (or almost in this case) for as long as I have followed him on Vassal. He knows what he is doing, and managed to wipe a 2 ship Thrawn list in round 2 of this tournament, sending the Mandalorian Moose flying.

Second of NAW with 22 TPS, is Clontroper5, back from darkest Africa after a two year hiatus. Clon is flying a 4/5 Moff JJ with ISD, Demo, 4 squads (91).
This list of Clon's is the only one under consideration here with a "medium" fighter complement. The rest are at 129+ or 33 or less.
Clon is lined up against PT106 in round 4, and I think that means PT is coming out on top.

Third of NAW is Rikash, also with 22 TPs, flying a 6 Rieekan with MC80A, Tycho and Shara (33).
Rikash needs to thump his opponent solidly and for Clon to overcome PT to break out of the pools.

Fourth of NAW is thecactusman17 with 20 TPs, flying a 5/6 Raddus with MC75, no squads.



No full / heavy squad lists made it to the top of NA West. East is a different story.


NA East
Top of NA East is JJs Juggernaut with 28 TPs, flying a 4 Dodonna with Bail MC75 and Yavaris, and 10 Y-wing squads of various kinds (129). The MC75 is set up with Ruthless strategists, so the Ys take a lot of friendly fire in order to win any squadron war. A fascinating list from one of the great players. If he comes up against a squadless list, the Ys just go to town. If he comes up against a squadron ball, presumably they fight it out at black range of the MC75.

NA East is lot more crowded at the top levels, with 2 players only one point behind JJ.

CommanderDave has a very interesting 3 Screed with Interdictor and Demo, 6 squads (Rogues, 127).
This round 4 face off with JJs Juggernaut will be interesting, but I think JJ has the edge here, although the Ys won't hold the Rogues in place. I don't know, but surely JJ is the safe bet at this point?


Roquax has a 6 Dodonna with Yavaris and HammerHeads, 8 squads (Aces, 133).

Fourth player with 22 TPs is Viktor Tanek with a 4/5 Moff JJ with ISD and Kuat, no squads.



Europe

Zamalekite tops Europe with 26 points, 3 clear of the next player. He is flying a 5 Dodonna with Yavaris and Pelta, 8 Squads (VCXs, 131).

He is up against Bobafetts on 23 TPs, flying his eponymous 2 Thrawn with Pryce ISD and Quasar, 8 squads (Maarket/Jendon/Friends 133).

I think Broba has the advantage here - the Fighting Thrawn Two Step with Pryce is vicious and will likely eat the Dodonna fighters leaving a Pelta and Nebulon to take down a very angry ISD.

Number three is Darth Veggie on 22 points, who needs a big win to top over Zam and Broba. He is flying a 6/7 Raddus with MC75 and Admonition, no squads.

Number four (well, there are a whole bunch of other people on 20 TPs) RapidReload is flying a 6 Rieekan list with Yavaris and Pelta, 8 squads (114). RapidReload was my round 2 opponent (I lost 7/4). I don't see how Darth Veggie gets a good Raddus drop on this list and survives the Rieekan Zombies chopping down his MC75 - unless he drops early, goes for the 7 acitvations, and tries to dart in and out with Admonition - but even then I don't really see it.

There are four Europe players on 20 points, and 3 more (including me) on 19. RikkiP, the UK National Champ and World's finalist 2018 is one point behind on 18.
The Four on 20 need to score 10/1s, and have Broba vs. Zam end 7/4 Broba's way, and then end up with a higher MOV (seems unlikely), and only if Darth Veggie scores an 8 or less.



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