Download the Results for: The Final [Download PDF 20Kb]

Pete Haines

Dozens of gamers compete to become the 2004/2005 champion!

Pete:The Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament was played out in the impressive surroundings of Warhammer world over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of March. Over 120 competitors, all of whom had successfully negotiated the qualifying rounds, gathered to determine who would be the Champion for the 2004-2005 season. In every respect, this was the big one, with the best players and some of the most impressive armies on display. It was also the first time that the revised edition of the Warhammer 40,000 rules were in use for a major event so a great deal of interest was focused on the event, not least from Games Development. Despite the apparent pressures it soon became clear that sportsmanship was not about to be sacrificed, the games were uniformly congenial and on the few occasions the referees were called to make rulings the players took them with good grace.

Occasionally above the excited background chatter came the gleeful cries of those rolling an important '6' or even a whole handful of them. With this many good players meeting each other virtually anything can and does happen, especially as virtually every Warhammer 40,000 army was represented from the ever-popular Space Marines and Eldar to the less-favoured Kroot Mercenaries and Feral Orks.

The Grand Tournament uses a 'Swiss Chess' system. This ensures that the highest scoring players are pitched against each other. Conveniently these games take place on the top row of tables so it is easy to see who is doing well. By the end of the first day's play, the heroic Space Marines of Bryn Jones were battling it out with Max Barton's cunning Alaitoc Eldar on the top table, whilst casting anxious glances along the row to see if any games were finishing early as that would be a sure sign that someone had scored a big win and might rise to challenge them on the second day. When the second day's proceedings began, Bryn's frightening Vindicator firing line was stormed by Simone Di Tomaso's Ulthwé Eldar army with the Seer Council at its head. Elsewhere we were treated to a Ravenwing vs Ravenwing battle featuring more Land Speeders than you could shake a stick at, which was enjoyed by all, not least the players who performed their 'jink' dances to influence the dice at critical times! The top seven tables now featured one Tyranid army, two Ork armies, six Eldar armies and a total of five Loyalist and Traitor Marine armies. All in all not a bad mix, especially as there was a lot of difference between armies from the same Codex. Further down the field players were letting their hair down and having some fun. The cry came up from one table "The Red Terror's just eaten St Celestine!" Not something you hear every day - only in a Grand Tournament.

Simone was now leading the charge to the finishing line with only two games to face. In the fourth round the challenge came from Alex Fennel's Space Marines although behind them more Eldar armies were jostling for position. Mark Reynold's Tau forced their way into the top tables further adding to the variety of armies on display.

In the final round, Simone fended off a spirited challenge from Mark Burstall's Saim-Hann Eldar and, despite Max Barton and Max Horseman coming up strongly on the rails to secure second and third place respectively, Simone Di Tomaso was duly crowned Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament Champion, successfully defending the title he won last year.

Even then it wasn't over. Despite the fatigue, 125 tired players made their way home, brains racing to plot and plan just how they were going to do better next year.

Pete Haines
Games Developer

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Click on the images below to see some of the outstanding models used in the final.

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STANDINGS

Overall Winner Simone de Tomaso Ulthwé Eldar	2nd Place Max Barton Eldar	3rd Place Max Horseman Chaos Space Marines
Best General Simone de Tomaso Ulthwé Eldar	Best Army Jason Paginton Death Guard	Most Sporting Opponent Graeme Simpson Chaos Space Marines