10th Friedrich World Championship 2015

The Qualification Round



In the qualification round 36 games were played. They can be briefly summarized like this:

Game 1: Karsten Kraft writes FWC history! Unfortunately a negative one for himself: After 7 rounds his Prussians are defeated by Sweden (Manni Wichmann). And with 1h 21min, this is the fastest Friedrich match in the FWC history!

Game 2: Florian Blum does only slightly better: His Prussians surrender after 8 turns (1h 25min). Winner is Klaus Blum with Russia.

Game 3: Greg Rogers Prussians have a good fate (no subsidy reductions till turn 20; early dropout of Russia). But still, Christian Blattner is victorious with France after 20 turns.

Game 4: Anton Telle experiences a real hard fate: Poems and Lord Bute in turn 6 and 7. However, neither Ewald Weisenburger (ussia), Bjorn von Knorring (Austria) nor Alex Calderon manage to win. And so Anton is the winner after 19 turns.

Game 5: Guy Atkinson makes a big blunder with Prussia in the early phase of the game, and everything seems lost! This is topped by Lord Bute as the first Fate Card. But Guy gathers his mental forces, and pulls off the 2nd Prussian victory of Friday evening.

Game 6: Newcomer Bill Fisher keeps the major opponents at bay. After early drop outs of Sweden (turn 7) and Russia (turn 8), it is the Imperial Army which breaks his defense (Thorsten Hennig) in turn 19.

Game 7: After 14 turns, Christian Yorck's Prussians are defeated by Austria and the Imperial Army. A double victory by Nico Maly, which earns him 13 points.

Game 8: After the exit of France (Jürgen Winter), the Imperial Army seems unstoppable once more. However, Andreas Zölitz (Prussia) and Denham Block (Austria) manage a double-catapult, and so Chemnitz (the last missing Imperial objective) is suddenly protected. This gives Russia (Richard Sivél) the time for his win in turn 14.

Game 9: Arnold de Wijs' played a new Prussian strategy: All Hanoverians to Saxony! Nevertheless, it is another Imperial triumph! In turn 20, John McCullough is victorious – just in the right time, because 1 turn later, the Empire would have switched players! This is the 3rd Imperial win of the evening. Together with the Swedish victory of game 1, the small nations have pulled off 4 out of 9 victories! An amazing ratio!

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Game 1: Manni Wichmann, happy winner with Sweden. Karsten Kraft is now record holder of the fastest Prussian defeat in an FWC: 7 turns, and 1h 21 min.


Game 5: Guy Atkinson, shortly after having lost 15 troops against Austria (see the blue cubes in front of him!).


Game 7: Christian Yorck re-arranges his defense. However, he won't be able to stop Nico Maly's double victory with Austria and the Imperial Army.


Game 14: Jürgen Winter and Mark Luta watch Guy Atkinson fighting Bjorn von Knorrings Prussians.


Game 17: Andrew Brown moving his pieces to set up the defense against Russia (Christoph Kaminski).


Game 16: Alex Calderon thinking on how to break the Prusian defense in Saxony, while Martin Höfer is sorting his cards.

Game 10: Alberto Romero (Prussia) holds out until turn 21. And just when the game could have ended with his victory, Stephan Jordan Austrians manages a last minute win.

Game 11: Jose Bonilla Rau wins with Prussia after quite early subsidy reductions (turn 8 and 11), and early America and Elisabeth (turn 6 and 9).

Game 12: After 21 rounds, Christian Blattner is victorious with Prussia as well.

Game 13: Anton Telle (Russia) makes good use of a Prussian blunder in East Prussia: Richard Shako did not notice one connection, and so Lehwaldt was suddenly encircled and wiped off the board. A Russian win after 14 turns.

Game 14: By playing his last diamond card and 3 reserves, Guy Atkinson (Austria) defeats Bjorn von Knorring (Prussia) in turn 14.

Game 15: A lof of strokes of fate! A lot of battles! Stefan Schönweiß (Prussia) seems to like hot, and is defeated by Alex Hofmanns French.

Game 16: Nils Langenfeld was close to victory with Russia, but then Elisabeth died (turn 9). Prussia (Richard Sivél) was always on thin ice in Saxony, and after a big mistake of him, Alex Calderon (Austria) encircles the Prussian defenders, sends them off the board and clears his way to victory (turn 18).

Game 17: For 23 turns, Andrew Brown's Prussians withstand all attacks of Christoph Kaminski (Russia), Arndold de Wijs (Austria) and Ewald Weisenburger (France) — and wins eventually. It is Andrew's first Prussian victory ever.

Game 18: Another Prussian win (Manni Wichmann). After 5h32min and 23 turns, the game had come to a sudden end: Poems (turn 21), Sweden (turn 22), India (turn 23).



Game 19: First it seems that fate is not on John McCulloughs side (subsidy reductions in turn 8 and 11), but then fate shows its sunny side: On turn 12 Russia exits, the next turn is India, and on turn 15 America. Game over! Prussia wins!

Game 20: Denham Block (Prussia) is defeated after 10 turns. Winner is Christian Yorck with Austria, while Alex Calderon (last year's finalist) reached only 3 points with Russia.

Game 21: Nico Maly cannot withstand against Russia (Guy Atkinson) and Austria (Florian Blum) which manage a double win on turn 12.

Game 22: Christoph Kaminski suffer heavy attacks from the allies (Christian Blattner (Elisabeth), Arvid Breitenbach (Maria Theresa) and Bjorn von Knorring (Pompadour)) and heavy stroke of fates (Lord Bute 6, Poems 8). The death of the Tsarina in turn 7 does not help. Just the opposite is true! It opens and by the attacks of – Christoph Kaminski is defeated by Sweden in turn 9.

Game 23: Martin Höfer's Prussians are wiped off the board. After turn 7, it is another time for Sweden (Jose Bonilla Rau) profiting from an early death of the Tsarina! This is the third Swedish win with eased victory conditions of the tournament!

Game 24: Here, Prussia (Peter Hannappel) is a safe boat. Neither Alberto Romero (Elisabeth), nor Maurice de Wijs (Maria Theresa), nor Klaus Blum (Pompadour) manage a breakthrough, and have to call it another day after 19 turns.

Game 25: Nils Langenfeld wins with Prussia after 22 turns. He managed to stop Jürgen Winter's Imperial Army win, and when the Empire switched over to Stefan Schönweiß, it was Stefan who received 8 good points, while Jürgen went home with only 5.8 points.

Game 26: Jump-in candidate Thorsten Hennig fought like a lion. Nevertheless, after a tight and tense struggle, his Prussians are hunted down after 16 turns. Winner is Andreas Zölitz (Austria).

Game 27: Mark Luta keeps Karsten Kraft (Elisabeth), Bill Fisher (Maria Theresa) and Greg Rogers (Pompadour) at bay, and wins after 22 turns.


Game 20: Denham Block thinking over his defense, watched by Christian Herkt (France) and Alex Calderon (Russia).


Game 21: Nico Maly, Guy Atkinson and Alex Hofmann thinking, while Florian Blum seems to foresee his Austrian win with a happy mood.


Game 23: Martin Höfer will be defeated after 7 turns by Sweden (Jose Bonilla Rau). This game has spectators: Birte and Luise Wolmeyer, an upcoming Friedrich new-bie!


Game 29: Hendrik Möschler's Prussian defense is shattered. Both Andrew (front) and Anton (back) will win in turn 7.


Game 31: Alex Calderon's sceptical look at Florian Blum's moves... Is his defense in danger?


Game 34: Ewald Weisenburger (Prussia) against Manni Wichmann (Austria) and Denham Block (France).

Game 28: Klaus Blum is happy about an empty Silesia, but the white-yellow invasion of Saxony gives him headaches. Despite America (turn 9) and Sweden (10), Richard Sivél goes for an Imperial win. But it is turn 12, where the empire switches over to Arnold de Wijs. The Austrians now are heading eastwards, but too late. Prussia wins after 19 turns. And Guy Atkinson makes 9 points with France. Enough to make it to the final!

Game 29: Another 7 turn Prussian breakdown! Hendrik Möschler cannot believe how many hearts France (Anton Telle) has in its hands! He suffers a double loss against France and Austria (Andrew Brown). Despite his 3 victories, Anton misses the final by 0.13 points.

Game 30: Maurice de Wijs is close to losing to Austria: All but Muskau are flagged. However, it is not France or Russia which drop out (thus making the Austrian win perfect), but Russia (Mark Luta) in a final offensive strike to win the game! And only with this win, Mark qualifies for the final!

Game 31: Alex Calderon's Prussians win the game after 19 turns. Christian Blattner (Austria) played for safe 9.2 points, instead of taking the risk to win the game. Together with his 3 wins from the previous games, this makes Christian the best player of the qualification round.

Game 32: After 10 turns, Christian Herkts (Prussia) is defeated. Winner is Alberto Romero (Austria). And if Russia would have had one more card in clubs, Nico Maly would have won as well.

Game 33: Jürgen Winter's Prussians find themselves encircled in Saxony by Sonja Garstke's Austrians. Two Prussian generals are wiped off the board (ca. turn 5). But Jürgen stays cool, and finally wins after 15 turns.

Game 34: Ewald Weisenburger (Prussia) is overwhelmed. Another double win by Peter Hannappel (Russia) and Manni Wichmann (Austria). With 3 wins Manni is the fourth player to make the final complete.

Game 35: Prussia (Stephan Jordan) is defeated by Sweden (Bjorn von Knorring) after 13 turns. The 4th Swedish victory of the tournament, and again one with eased victory conditions. Sometimes, so it seems, the Prussian life would be easier when the Tsarina only lived longer!

Spiel 36: Arvid Breitenbach Prussian's cannot stop the double win of France (Andreas Zölitz) and Austria (Stefan Schönweiß).

Ranking after the qualification round:

Player Friedr. Elis. M.Ther. Pomp. Total TB1
1 Christian Blattner 12.0 12.0 9.2 12.0 45.2
2 Guy Atkinson 12.0 11.5 11.5 9.0 44.0
3 Manni Wichmann 12.0 12.0 11.5 8.0 43.5
4 Mark Luta 12.0 12.0 7.0 11.5 42.5
5 Anton Telle 12.0 12.0 6.9 11.5 42.4
6 Peter Hannappel 12.0 11.5 9.2 9.0 41.7
7 Andrew Brown 12.0 9.0 11.5 9.0 41.5
ooC Richard Sivél 9.0 12.0 9.2 9.0 39.2
8 Andreas Zölitz 7.0 8.0 12.0 11.5 38.5
9 Jose Bonilla Rau 12.0 12.0 9.4 5.0 38.4
ooC Hennig, Hofmann,
Steinborn 		9.0 12.0 9.2 9.0 39.2
10 Klaus Blum 12.0 12.0 5.8 8.0 37.8
11 Alberto Romero 10.5 5.0 12.0 9.0 36.5
12 Stefan Schönweiß 6.5 9.0 11.5 9.0 36.0 15.0
13 John McCullough 12.0 8.0 12.0 4.0 36.0 14.1
14 Christian Yorck 7.0 8.0 12.0 9.0 36.0 2.0
15 Bjorn von Knorring 7.0 12.0 7.5 9.0 35.5
16 Arnold de Wijs 10.0 8.0 9.2 8.0 35.2
17 Nico Maly 6.0 8.0 13.0 8.0 35.0 14.0
18 Alex Calderon 12.0 3.0 12.0 8.0 35.0 5.0
19 Stephan Jordan 6.5 8.0 12.0 8.0 34.5
20 Maurice de Wijs 7.0 9.0 9.2 8.0 33.2 9.0
21 Nils Langenfeld 12.0 8.0 4.2 9.0 33.2 8.0
22 Greg Rogers 10.0 6.0 9.2 8.0 33.2 4.0
23 Arvid Breitenbach 8.0 8.0 8.1 9.0 33.1
24 Jürgen Winter 12.0 6.0 5.8 8.0 31.8
25 Bill Fisher 9.5 8.0 5.0 8.0 30.5 12.0
26 Florian Blum 4.0 6.0 11.5 9.0 30.5 7.0
27 Martin Höfer 3.5 9.0 9.2 8.0 29.7
ooC Shako, Garstke, et al. 6.5 8.0 5.0 9.0 28.5
28 Christoph Kaminski 4.5 9.0 6.9 6.0 26.4
29 Christian Herkt 5.0 6.0 5.8 8.0 24.4
30 Hendrik Möschler 3.5 7.0 5.0 9.0 24.5
31 Ewald Weisenburger 4.5 6.0 8.3 5.0 23.8
32 Karsten Kraft 3.5 3.0 8.8 8.0 23.3
33 Denham Block 5.0 6.0 1.7 6.0 18.7
TB1 = Tiebreaker No.1
 ooC = out of competition


Game 28: Klaus Blum thinking.


Game 3: Jürgen Winter thinking.


Game 36: Arvid Breitenbach moving.



The Fair Ehrensvärd Award, handed over to the Celle group: Martin Höfer, Hendrik Möschler, Karsten Kraft, Florian Blum.


The Golden Hildi (a special reserve card with a value of 1000) is handed over to Denham Block, the last ranked player.


The four highest ranked players were:
Christian Blattner, Guy Atkinson, Manni Wichmann and Mark Luta.
They entered the final which was started at 4:45 p.m.

Christian Blattner (best player of the qualification round) picked his role first, followed by Guy Atkinson, and so on.

For Guy Atkinson and Mark Luta it was their first FWC final, while for Christian it was his 2nd, while Manni played his 5th final.

Manni is the only player of this year's final, who became Friedrich World Champion before. And he succeeded even twice: in 2011 and 2013.

This year, the Fair Ehrensvärd became a group award: It was presented to the four players from Celle (Martin Höfer, Hendrik Möschler, Karsten Kraft, Florian Blum) who filled the hall with great sportsman spirit and wonderful mood. Their humour and joy were invincible (despite the fact, that their Prussians were quite the opposite).