Sissy is the winner of the 2023 XLeague after winning the Final Series 4-1 against runner-up Nici.

Sissy and Nici had yet another quick but intense battle on the Mensch-ärgere-dich-nicht board.

With only 25 minutes, it was the quickest playoff at-board and the second-quickest XLeague at-board overall.

Both Nici and Sissy established their go-to colours quite early but did not enjoy very effective blocking from their respective second colours.

Accordingly, the game developed into a close sprint race without much tactical manoeuvring in which Nici seemed to have the edge as she got her fourth yellow pawn in match-point position when Sissy’s fourth red pawn still had a some ground to cover.
Continue reading →

What a difference a momentum swing makes…

After winning Game 4 earlier today to tie the Qualifying Series and snap a 6-game losing streak, Nici won the decider against Harry to win the series 3-2 and reach the Final Series of the 2023 XLeague.

In the Final Series, Nici will be facing her Mom, “Queen” Sissy, who will go into the first-to-4-wins series with a 1-0 head start.

Nici dominated the board from start to end. She established red as her go-to colour early enough, had great green blockers and also, mostly, the die on her side.
Continue reading →

Sissy is the Round-Robins Winner of the 2023 XLeague after landing victories against Harry and Nici on Saturday.

“Triple Crown Queen” Sissy (14-10) will have a chance to add to her trophy cabinet as she will enter the first-to-4 Final Series with a 1-0 head start.

Even though Nici (12-12) will go into the first-to-3 Qualifying Series with a 1-0 head start, the momentum should be on her Dad’s side.

While Nici, who had a one-game lead going into the final DRR, lost all of her four at-boards of the weekend, Harry (10-14) won 3-of-4, thus snapping a 2-10 stretch from the previous three DRRs.
Continue reading →