14th Friedrich World Championship, 2019

The Qualification Round



In the qualification round, 28 games were played:

Game 1: Due to lack of diamonds, Richard Sivél (Prussia) is under early pressure. The Imperial Army (Guy Atkinson) keeps advancing on the road to victory. It needs a French +4 win at Magdeburg to save the situation. Although Magdeburg surrenders, the retreat path chosen by David Önkür allows Prussia to eliminate the Austrian supply train in Saxony (ca. turn 10). In the same turn, the Austrian supply train in Silesia is also destroyed. The Austria have to head southwards for supply. Hildi, now w/o protection, is attacked by Prussia and wiped off the board. However, this is only a breath taking phase. Finally, Andreas Buschhaus wins with Russia in turn 19.

Game 2: Klaus Blum wins with Austria in turn 14. Maurice de Wijs (Prussia) was shattered by an early Lord Bute (turn 8).

Game 3: Bjorn von Knorring is profiting from Russia's early exit (Jose Bonilla Rau, turn 6). Since no subsidy reductions occur, Prussia's victory in turn 20 is quite a sure thing.

Game 4: Another match with early exits: Sweden turn 6, India turn 7, Elisabeth turn 8. Although Andrew Brown, Christoph Kaminski & Jürgen Winter play with a lot of pressure right from the start, Christian Dickhausen wins with Prussia in turn 14.

Game 5: John McCullough wins with Prussia in turn 23. But it was a close thing! Mark Luta (Russia) and Christian Blattner (Austria) needed only 1 objective for glory.

Game 6: In a wild and atypic match, the 4th Prussian win is made perfect by Alex Calderon (turn 20). Arnold de Wijs (Austria) was only 1 objective short.

Game 7: Peter Hannappel's Russian hordes struggle hard and eventually wear down the Prussian defense (Alberto Romero) in turn 14. On a sidenote: Andreas Zölitz (France) had to fight an unusual opponent called the Imperial Army! Hildi is quite often the main obstacle.

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Game 3: Bjorn v. Knorring is moving, watched by Anton Telle, while Jose Bonilla Rau is thinking about the Russian positions.


Game 4: Jürgen Winter with a funny word.


Game 6: Arnold de Wijs sorting the cards.


Game 10: Felix Schmucker in comfortable mood. However, it is Pompadour (Marcus Straßmann) to win in the end with the Imperial Army.


Game 13: Christoph Kaminski sorting cards, while Mark Luta is moving his pieces.


Game 14: David Önkür will win with Prussia in turn 23 against Stephan Jordan, Jürgen Winter and Klaus Blum.

Game 8: Right from the start, Peter Hannappel (Prussia) gives up many territories against Austria (Bjorn v. Knorring). However, he is conserving his TCs that way. Russia (Alex Calderon), however, is able to fight Dohna massively. Also, in turn 4 Ferdinand leaves the board due to lack of supply. The tide turns with the death of the Tsarina (turn 7). Although Ehrensvärd lays siege to Stade, the allies hardly make progress. The Prussian hand of TCs is too strong. Peter wins in turn 21.

Game 9: Guy Atkinson (France) conquers Madgeburg and Halberstadt quite early. The exit of Russia with the first card of fate is only of little help for Prussia (Andreas Zölitz), since both subsidy reductions come soon thereafter (turn 9 and 10). Since Anton Telle needs too much time with Austria, Guy wins with France in turn 14.

Game 10: Felix Schmucker plays the Prussians quite aggressive. Although France leaves in turn 11, this is not a real problem for Marcus Straßmann, since he pulls off a victory with the Imperial Army instead (turn 15).

Game 11: If Timo Saddig would have had a better suit strategy for Prussia, he should have won this game, since fate was on his side: India turn 6, America turn 7, Elisabeth turn 8. Due to his mistakes, however, Austria (Jose Bonilla Rau) is the winner after 11 turns. (Note that Sweden would have droopüed out in turn 14.)

Game 12: Alex Schröder (Prussia) has to sit and shiver when the Swedes (John McCullough) are holding the first order objectives for 5 or 6 turn! Will the Tsarina die? Hopfully not! hopefully not!, Alex keeps thinking. And he is lucky! The Tsarina does not die! However, after 17 turns, it is game over for him. Christian Dickhausen wins with Austria.

Game 13: Mark Luta (Prussia) is struggling for victory. When he is on the chessclock, Alberto Romero (Russia) is able to encircle the sole defender of Kammin at Regenswalde. This is Russia's victory (turn 19).

Game 14: In turn 13 it seems like the Imperial Army (Jürgen Winter) will win in 2 turns. However, in turn 13 Sweden drops out, and the Stephan Jordan takes over the yellow pieces. Without Austrian help, victory is not possible for him. So David Önkür (Prussia) can consolidate, and after many clever manoevres he wins after 23 long turns.

Game 15: After 15 turns and 4 hours John McCullough wins with the Imperial Army. The other attackers are scoring well, too: Russia 9, France 9. (John's Austrians receive only 5.63 points.)

Game 16: Another match where Austria (Richard Sivél) is playing on an Imperial win. He does not change his plan when the Tsaring dies in turn 7. Prussia (Arnold de Wijs) is fighting everyone everywhere. And when Sweden drops out in turn 9, Andreas Zölitz has an easy move with Hildi. He conquers the unprotected Chemnitz and wins with the Empire in turn 10.

Game 17: Jon Brede Smith (Elisabeth) is a real nuisance for Guy Atkinson. However, after quite many early battle victories, Russia quits the game in turn 6, followed by Sweden only 1 turn later. But the match is still on the edge until the final round, since the allies hold up their pressure. Finally Guy wins with Prussia after 22 turns.

Game 18: Andreas Buschhaus (Prussia) has to spend many, many hearts against France (Alex Schröder), but in vain: France prevails. But since America and India are falling quickly, France exits in turn 8. Sweden (Anton Telle) is holding its first objectives for 2 turns. Hopefully the Tsarina does not die, hopefully she does not die, Andreas keeps thinking. And so it is. However, eventually Lehwaldt & ndash; the last defender against Russia – is defeated. Russia wins in turn 14.

Game 19: Klaus Blum's Prussians are engaged in heavy battles with Austria and the Imperial Army (Alex Caderon). But only in Saxony; Silesia is almost calm throughout the game. Russia (Christian Dickhausen) has enormous problems and leaves the game in turn 10 with 3 points only. Klaus wins after 23 turns.

Game 20: Christian Blattner has to fight Jürgen Winter's Russians in Saxony already in turn 5. When the Russians move on to Magdeburg, the Christian's Prussians have to engage them in hearts. This is of good use for France (Peter Hannappel). He wins in turn 20. It is his third win in the tournament.

Game 21: In a true marathon match, Prussia (Christoph Kaminski) wins after 7h 25m (22 turns). And this despite subsidy reductions in turn 11 and 14. Of course the early exit of Russia (David Önkür) in turn 8 was of good help. This game will be unforgettable with its funny statements and bright laughter.


Game 17: Stephan Jordan stops the clock, since there is a fight with Prussia (Guy Atkinson).


Game 18: Andreas Buschhaus is moving, while Anton Telle is deeply sunken into thoughts.


Game 21: Christoph Kaminski has won the marathon match (7h 25m) gewonnen.


Game 23: Andreas Zölitz (Austria) inspecting his cards.


Game 26: Alex Schröder and Christian Blattner are trying to defeat Jose Bonilla Rau.


Game 28: Jürgen Winter cancels his Offensive Option in the very last moment. In the end, Andreas Buschhaus and John McCullpugh win in turn 16 with Austria and France.

Game 22: Andrew Brown (Prussia) is defending clever. However, an early Lord Bute (turn 6) forces him to improvise. Since the pro-Prussian stroke of fates don't show up, the winner is Philipp Schmit with Austria (turn 14).

Game 23: Stephan Jordan is another Prussia hit by bad stroke of fates: Poems turn 8, Lord Bute turn 12. Andreas Zölitz tries to encircle a Prussian general with the Imperial army, but fails only by inches. Finally, Andreas wins with Austria in turn 14.

Game 24: Mark Luta is the third winner with Austria of Sunday morning (turn 13). At the end of the game, the French (Timo Saddig) have locked up both Hannoveranians at Stade; France makes 8 points. For Marcus Straßmann (Prussia) the scored 6.5 points are not enough for the final. Guy Atkinson, however, although not victorious manages to enter the final (making 9 points with Russia).

Game 25: Jon Brede Smith, playing his first FWC, defends corageous and clever with Prussia. But this is not enough to stop David Önkür's Austrians. Since this is David's third win, he will enter the final. Note that both Bjorn v. Knorring and Christian Dickhausen had chances for the final. But their scored points (8 for Russia, 8 for France) are not enough.

Game 26: Jose Bonilla Rau's Prussians are performing well at the beginning. But then, suddenly, Christian Blattner (France) encircles the King himself at Staßfurt and defeats him. This makes Magdeburg fall. In the same turn, Dohna has to retreat from combat against the Russians (Richard Siv&eactue;l). Dohne moves to Massow (diamonds) where he is safe for the moment. Before the Russians can initiate a diamonds-diamonds battle, the Tsarina dies (turn 9). And so Jose can stabilize his positions. Although he is low on diamonds at the end against Alex Schröder (Austria), Prussia wins in turn 20.

Game 27: Anton Telle (Prussia) misses the final only by 2 turns. Winner of the game is Peter Hannappel (Austrai) in turn 21. It is Peter's fourth win in the qualification round! In the whole game, there was not a single fight between France (Arnold de Wijs) and Prussia. Furthermore, Peter played a reserve card twice as 1 to escape a tie in combat.

Game 28: Jürgen Winter started the game with an offensive option in mind. But then, in the very last moment, he changes his plans. And it was the right decision! In turn 6, Lord Bute shows up. Felix Schmucker (Elisabeth) goes for a Swedish win, but fails. In the end, at turn 16, the winners are Andreas Buschhaus (Austria) and John McCullough (France). This shared win is enough for John to enter the final.

Ranking after the qualification round:

Player Friedr. Elis. M.Ther. Pomp. Total. TB1
1* Peter Hannappel 12,0 12,0 12,0 12,0 48,0
2 John McCullough 12,0 7,0 12,0 11,5 42,5
3 David Önkür 12,0 9,0 12,0 9,0 42,0
4 Guy Atkinson 12,0 9,0 12,0 9,0 41,0 10,5
5 Klaus Blum 12,0 9,0 12,0 8,0 41,0 10,0
6 Anton Telle 10,5 12,0 9,4 8,0 39,9
7 Andreas Zölitz 7,0 12,0 12,0 8,0 39,0
8 Mark Luta 9,5 9,0 12,0 8,0 38,5
9 Jose Bonilla Rau 12,0 6,0 12,0 8,0 38,0 11,0
10 Christian Dickhausen 12,0 6,0 12,0 8,0 38,0 6,0
11 Bjorn v. Knorring 12,0 8,0 8,3 9,0 37,3
12 Andreas Buschhaus 7,0 12,0 11,5 6,0 36,5
13 Alberto Romero 7,0 12,0 9,2 8,0 36,2
14 Marcus Straßmann 6,5 8,0 9,2 12,0 35,7
15 Christoph Kaminski 12,0 7,0 8,3 8,0 35,3
16 Christian Blattner 10,0 7,0 9,2 9,0 35,2
17 Alex Calderon 12,0 5,0 9,2 8,0 35,2
18 Maurice de Wijs 7,0 8,0 9,2 8,0 32,4
19 Jürgen Winter 8,0 7,0 9,2 8,0 32,2
20 Timo Saddig 5,5 9,0 8,8 8,0 32,3
21 Alex Schröder 8,5 7,0 8,3 7,0 30,8
22 Philipp Schmidt 7,5 4,0 12,0 7,0 30,5
23 Jon Brede Smith 7,5 6,0 9,2 7,0 29,7
24 Felix Schmucker 7,5 7,0 6,7 8,0 29,2
25 Andrew Brown 7,0 7,0 5,8 9,0 28,8
ooC Richard Sivél 9,5 5,0 5,0 8,0 27,5
26 Arnold de Wijs 5,0 5,0 9,2 8,0 27,2
27 Stephan Jordan 7,0 8,0 5,0 7,0 27,0
TB1 = Tiebreaker No.1
 * = Player had to pass on the final, due to lack of time.
 ooC = out of competiton


Game 20: Jürgen Winter is roaming Saxony with his Russians (ca. turn 5) .


Game 26: Friedrich himself, encircled at Staßfurt. After a heavy hearts battle, Jose Bonilla Rau has to take the King from the board.



World Champion of the Hearts.
Peter Hannappel is the clear winner of the qualification round with 4 consecutive victories. Since he has to work on Monday, he has to pass on the final, though. What a pity!


With 4 wins, Peter Hannappel is the clear winner of the qualification round. However, since his boss ordered him to work on monday, he has to pass on the final. How ignorant bosses can be! As consolation, Peter is promoted to the World Champion of the Hearts!

Therefore the next best ranked players entered the final:
John McCullough, David Önkür, Guy Atkinson and Klaus Blum.


The final started at 5:30 p.m.

John McCullough had the first choice of his role, followed by David Önkür, and so on.

For John and David it was the first final to play; for Klaus the second, and for Guy the third.

The Fair Ehrensvärd was awarded to Alberto Romero: When recruiting with Prussia, he played 2 cards. However, a reserve stuck to one of the cards. The other players interpreted the tournament rules very strict (A card laid is a card played), and Alberto agreed without anger or grumbling. And since no-one contacted the jury, this could not be corrected. Albertto, a true Fair Ehrensvärd!

The Fair Ehrensvärd.
Alberto Romero, who accepted a very strict interpretation of the tournament rules without grumbling.
The Golden Hildi.
Stephan Jordan, the last ranked player, receives the Golden Hildi, a special reserve cars worth 1000 points.