X Wing Store Championships 2017

Today is our X-Wing Store Championships. 18 players registered, but due to last-minute cancellations, only 15 entered. Here is the during/after action report.

The Players

So, we had 15 players at the event. Of those, 8 were local/regular players. 3 were returning after last years Store Champs, and the rest were new to my events. That's quite a good mix, though obviously, I'm hoping one of our regulars takes the prize. One of them, Matt Vicary has already won a Champ title this season. He's hoping to make it a second, although the Bye at Regionals passes down if he does so. Surprisingly, we have managed an even mix of faction, with 5 players of each.

The Lists

Scum and Villainy

• Asajj Ventress, Palob Godalhi and Manaroo (Graham Ebsworth)
• Dengar and Zuckuss (Jack West)
• Dengar, Fenn Rau and Inaldra (Tim Greenaway)
• Bossk and Tel Trevura (Shaun Rich)
• Ketsu Onyo and Asajj Ventress (Sean O'Neil)

Rebellion/Resistance

• Ahsoka Tano, Captain Nym and Poe Dameron (Sam Crosby)
• Bandit Squadron Pilot and 4 x Rookie Pilot (Richard Greenaway)
• Wullffwarro, Biggs Darklighter, Captain Rex and Gray Squadron Pilot (Simon Greenaway)
• Miranda Doni, Biggs Darklighter and Lowhhrick (Paul Cadwell)
• Han Solo and Poe Dameron (Matt Coles)

Imperial/First Order

• Quickdraw, Backdraft and 2 x Academy Pilot (Mat Vicary)
• Whisper and 2 x Shadow Squadron Pilot (Nick Turner)
• Countess Ryad, Darth Vader, Dark Curse and Academy Pilot (Marty Vicary)
• The Inquisitor, Colonel Vessery and Omega Leader (Jon Vicary)
• Quickdraw, Backdraft and Colonel Vessery (Ian Atrill)

No copycat lists. No pilot appearing in more than 2 lists. A very diverse set of squads. I'll do a later post featuring some of the details on the lists. It's impressive to see such diversity at a Store Champs event, especially so close to UK Nationals.

Top 4

 These are the lists and players that made the top cut

• Dengar, Fenn Rau and Inaldra (Tim Greenaway)
• Bandit Squadron Pilot and 4 x Rookie Pilot (Richard Greenaway)
• Dengar and Zuckuss (Jack West)
• Miranda Doni, Biggs Darklighter and Lowhhrick (Paul Cadwell)

Two Scum, two Rebel. The highest Imperial list came 5th, so it's not too bad. Of course, father and son get paired against each other in the semi final. Interestingly, only Dengar is in both matches.

Final

These two made it to the final

• Bandit Squadron Pilot and 4 x Rookie Pilot (Richard Greenaway)
• Miranda Doni, Biggs Darklighter and Lowhhrick (Paul Cadwell)

An all Rebel final. It's really interesting to see the list with 4 X-Wings do so well. Shame he had to knock out the 12-year-old in the semis. Tim is a really good player, and will presumably only get better with age and time.

The final has been a textbook in blocking a ship to take it apart with the rest of your force. First Biggs, then Lowhhrick fell. Miranda is starting to clean up though.

The X-Wing swarm won!

 In a game where the humble X-Wing is considered bad, to see a group of them with Rookie Pilots win is really something. Watching him fly in the final, he is really practised with those ships and knows exactly what he wants to get out of them.

Congratulations Richard, and good luck at Nationals.