World Strategy Gamer Rankings –

Updated August 15, 2009

 

 

Overview

 

So who’s the best strategy gamer in the world?

 

Our intention is not throw down the gauntlet or “dis” any particular gaming titles.

There are many strong strategy players in the big wide world of gaming. But until they come run with the BIG dogs at WBC in the summer (and WAM, D-Day and VIP Midwest Open during the spring and fall), they’ll be the king of their respective ponds and nothing else.

 

We've reviewed the 100 games played  at the World Board Gaming Championships (WBC) each August . We have 6 games of serious/fun competition:

A 2-player strategy Gang of Six so to speak: Breakout Normandy (BKN), Hannibal (HRC), Paths of Glory (POG), War at Sea (WAS), Victory in the Pacific (VIP) and

The Russian Campaign (TRC). These games share the following characteristics:

 

     (1)   Very demanding in terms of strategy

     (2)   A high level of competition: consistently a field of at least 32 at WBC

     (3)   Fanatical following: tourneys during the year dedicated to just that particular game

 

Until someone makes the case that another complex strategy board game draws the level of competition that the GANG OF SIX attracts, we’ll put our money on one of the

players mentioned below  as being the world’s best strategy gamer. And with that, the rankings:

 

World Strategy Gamer Ranking – Integrated Ranking

 

Well, they said it could not be done…but, we will give it a shot: an integrated ranking of the top strategy gamers in the world.

We encourage feedback.

 

There are now 7 players that have managed to win titles in more than one WBC event for the six titles:

 

Alan Applebaum (VIP, BKN)

Nick Anner (PoG, HRC, and a silly euro game, PRO)

Jim Doughan (HRC, BKN)

Ed O’Connor (TRC, VIP)

Peter Reese (PoG, HRC)

Andy Gardner (VIP, WAS)

Tom Drueding (PoG, HRC)

 

Any rating system should probably include of few of these individuals in the top rankings, given their track record.

 

WBC 2008 Key Wargame Champs:

 

BKN: Nels Thompson - a repeat BKN champion, but that BKN field is getting small.

VIP: Charlie Drozd - one of the two new naval game rookie winners.

WAS: Jonathan Lockwood - the other one.

TRC: Doug James. Mr. James has won TRC 3 out of the last 4 years.

HRC: Jim Heenehan. Always wears the red Cathagian hat and returns to the winners circle.

POG: Riku Riekkinen. The dragon from Finland also won the other "long" strategy game, For the People - a first grabbing both a PoG and FtP gold title - and dethroning Mr.Pei from his FtP perch. As an added bonus, was responsible for preventing Nest of Spies from winning a four WBC team title in a row.

 

WBC 2006 Key Wargame Champs:

 

BKN: Jim Eliason's 2nd BKN title at WBC. Attendance fell to 19 from 27, threatening Gang of Six inclusion for this title. We'll put it on probation ;-)

VIP: Ed Menzel's 2nd VIP title at WBC.

WAS: John Sharp tops a field of 46.

TRC: Doug James' 3rd title in the last 4 years. Field falls to 23...another event goes on probation.

HRC: Jim Heeneham's first WBC title - and he always gets style points for his great Carthaginian headgear.

POG: Herr Dr, gaining his third championship ring from PoG tournies WBC and WAM.

 

 

WBC 2005 Key Wargame Champs:

 

BKN:  Andrew Cummins - his first BKN WBC title (and now #1 in terms of WBC Laurels). Has 2 previous D-Day BKN titles. Need to get him into CDGs.

VIP: Andy Gardner...top dog naval wargame player - has both a VIP and WAS title.

WAS: Dennis Nicholson...a great gaming gentleman...I think he wiped me out in one of my few March Madness games.

TRC: Doug James...2# ranked TRC player after Tom Gregorio

HRC: Nick Anner - and he wore the greatest WWI helmet - Nick is also a Puerto Rico and PoG WBC champ - making him the only person to hold a significant euro and wargame title - I believe...and the guy also wins award for placing the largest order for Andy Nelson's BBQ - the man has taste!

PoG: Tom Drueding - accomplishing something no one else has; winning PoG WBC, WAM and PBEM tournies all in one year.

 

WBC 2004 Key Wargame Champs:

 

BKN:  Nels Thompson - his first BKN title. Has been moving into the CDGs.

VIP: Mike Kaye - Mike is no stranger to WBC titles, although his first WBC VIP title

WAS: Bruce Monnin - 3rd WAS title - and picked up a WW 1st at WAM 2004, making Bruce the second player (Marvin B was the first) to win one of the older Gang of Six events and a CDG

TRC: Tom Gregorio - 3rd TRC title - and joins Bruce and Marvin with a CDG title - BtB at WAM

HRC: Chris Byrd - one of the stronger CDG players

PoG: Nick Anner - and he wore the greatest WWI helmet - Nick also is a Puerto Rico WBC champ - making him the only person to hold a significant euro and wargame title - I believe

 

WBC 2003 Key Wargame Champs:

 

BKN: Jim Eliason – his first BKN title…has been trying his hand PoG and HRC…finished 3rd in HRC WBC 2003…may be next to join the top 5

VIP: Ed Menzel – adds to his Midwest Open 2002, 2003 victories, and winning both the Open and WBC in the same year is quite a feat

WAS:RayFreeman – Now, a 3 time winner of WAS

TRC: Doug James – Grabs his 2nd TRC title at WBC (00, 02) and has a Pbem victory in the event

HRC: Keith Wixson – Was close to pulling a “Reese double” (winning two of the card driven games in one tourney) with a 4th in WW…a force to be reckoned with…

PoG: Rob Hassard – After getting close a few times, Hassard pulls the gold…

 

 

Top Baker's Dozen Strategy Players (A player needs big wood (1st or 2nd) in at least 2 of the GANG of SIX to be included on the list below...listed in no particular order)

 

Methodology note: We're changing our  methodology and going with BPA laurels, AREA and input from some of the WBC sharks. Additionally, a player needs some points from more than one of the games to be included in the top dozen (otherwise they may just be king of their particular title).

 

Riekkinen: Burst upon the strategy scene in 2008 with double wins of FtP and PoG - a WBC first and unlikely to be equalled soon. Took a beating at WBC 2009 from the Nest of Spies - who knocked him out of every tourney.

 

Pei: VERY strong at FtP, HRC and WW (top ranked in all three titles). Won FtP at WAM/WBC in 03 & WAM 04..pulls a "Reese" double at WBC 2004 with titles in both FtP (top ranked) and WW (2nd ranked). Slipped some by losing the FtP title in 2008 to The Fin, but managed to regain title in 2009 by extracting some revenge on Riku in five quick turns and winning the Wilderness Wars gold. The Master is back.

 

Drueding... the ONLY gamer pull a PoG "triple" in one year: WBC, WAM and PBEM titles...HRC champ, WW WAM champ (now 4th ranked) and top ranked PoG player. Had a down year in 2009.

 

Anner: Only player to win Puerto Rico, HRC and PoG - and probably only person that ever will...2004 WBC PoG champion,  2005 HRC champion and now 2006 ToC champion. Hasn't been active as of late due to being a new papa.

 

Doughan: BKN 4 championships, HRC 1...Continued PoG improvement, but, still out of the money…...2004 grabs a second at BKN/WBC...becomes the SAND MAN: WBC 2005 6th place finishes in BKN and PoG - and gets the rarest of the WBC trophies, the Sand Plaque, twice in one year. Hasn't been in the money of a top dog event for sometime.

 

Applebaum: Only player to win both BKN & VIP...no recent wood...5th place VIP WBC 2005...would love to see him try the CDGs. Returned to big dog gold in 2009 with a BKN championship ring.

 

Reese: Pulled the 1st double in a year in 2002 (won BOTH PoG and HRC). ...3rd in FtP WBC 2004...3rd place PoG and WW in 2005....and then skunked at WBC the last few years. The Crusher appears to be slipping.

 

Birnbaum: A darkhorse to win BKN & POG. Snagged PoG title at WAM 2005. The 1st Caesar....poor CDG showing at WBC the last few year, but remains a top ranked player and grabbed the WtP ring in 2009.

 

Eliason: Takes the BKN Gold…3rd in HRC…has a shot at now winning 2 of the BIG 6....6th place VIP WBC 2006 - always a very tough field. Only three time sand plaque winner in WBC history.

 

Gregorio: VIP and TRC strong player…respectable showing in BtB 03, won BtB WAM 04...took TRC title in 2004, 2nd in  2005 and 4th in 2006. Now, frequently in the PoG quarter finals, but hasn't managed to get to semi's yet. Knocked Mecay out of PoG tourney in 2008 and fell to The Fin in 2009 quarters.

 

Kaye:  Strong BKN, VIP player … grabbed 3rd in VIP 2003and takes gold VIP WBC 2004...currently 2nd ranked VIP player

 

MeCay: Won both PoG and BtB PBEM tourneys…a WBC first.  Consistently grabs gold in Twilight Struggle (70+ entrants). 2nd place finish in Wilderness Wars to his credit. Won PoG gold in 2009 by defeating Dockter in the finals.

 

Wixson: Grabs WW gold in 2006, adding to HRC gold in 2003. Strong showing at WBC 2009, leading the "Me and Three Stiffs" to the team championship circle over the Nest of Spies. Won HRC again in 2009 and finished 2nd in WtP to his teammate, Scenario Boy. Still would like to see Mr.Wixson try his hand at one of the longer card driven wargames

 

Dockter: 3 PoG gold rings.. .Five straight 2nd place FtP finishes to Master Pei.. 2nd place PoG 2008..2nd/3rd places in HRC and WtP.

 

Other honorable mentions:

 

Fedin: LEGENDARY WW WBC 2005 win over Wigdor, giving his team, The Nest of Spies, the WBC title Freemen: Strong naval player takes title at WBC 2003...3rd place showings in both WAS & VIP...nothing lately, Gardner: Only player to win both “naval games” – no showing at 2003 or 2004  WBC wood hall , O’Connor:  Only player to win both TRC & VIP – no showing at 2003 or 2004 WBC wood hall, Henry (VIP – 3 championships, top rated, but no other presence in top games), Dickson (TRC – 3 championships, but no other presence in top games), Burkhalter (Won BKN 96,  ranked 21 in TRC, recent decent showing in card games), Packwood (won WAS 96, plays VIP, consistent 1776 champ), Beyma (won TRC twice, and top ranked in a number of the classics), Greenwood (BKN and TNW titles), Monnin (Victory in WAS WBC 2004 and WW WAM 2004 gold medal places him in the top dozen), Coffey (Strong strategy gamer and managed to dethrone Mr.Packwood

 

So who we would currently rank 1st in the world? James Pei or Stephen Mecay.

 

Sweet Sixteen Card Sharks (WBC laurels {essentially ratings points} indicated for the card driven wargame genre)
 
Key tourneys: WBC July/August Baltimore and WAM January/February Baltimore

 

Those knuckleheads that play poker on ESPN couldn't hold a candle to the level of strategy competition among the WBC card driven wargame players. Of course, the ESPN knuckleheads make a lot more money.

 

There is currently no integrated card based strategy ranking system. So, we base our rankings on the WBC Laurels from these card driven wargame titles: EoS, FtP, HRC, 2P NAP, PoG, ToC, TS, WW, WtP. All these tournies draw at around 32 players (except the newer titles) every year and are played at both WAM at WBC. Below is the current list of "card sharks".

 

 

 

(1) Master Pei (778...426 in FtP)…won WBC FtP 2002 - 2006, and WAM FtP 2003, 2004, 2005…clear champ of the single deck games (at least one 1st place in all four: FtP, HRC, WW, and WtP), but no gold in double deck games (PoG, BtB)…achieved a "Reese double" (FtP and WW champ at 2004)...only gamer with laurels in 6 CDGs

 

(2) Da Crusher Reese (407)…won WBC PoG and HRC 2002  - (1st time by a CDG player  - now known as the Reese double)..only player to win a gold at both double and single deck CDGs... no gold at WBC 2003-2005, but two 3rds (PoG & WW) in 2005...weak showing at 2006 WBC...slipping...

 

(3) Herr Dockter (365)…won WBC PoG 2001 & 2006, WAM PoG/BtB 2003…4th ranked PoG player & 2nd ranked FtP player...and, hey, I’m doing the rankings!

 

(4) Gentleman Drueding (347)….won HRC 1996, the PoG "triple" champ in 2005, WW WAM 2003…usually in the playoff field for any particular card tourney he enters…2nd in PoG and 3rd in WW at WBC 2003 was a very strong showing

 

(5) Caesar (orScenario Boy) Birnbaum(357)…won WBCt WtP (02) and 3rd in PoG (02,03) …2nd WAM PoG/BtB…recently won BKN Nov tourney…has not won HRC, but grabbed POG and WtP gold at WAM 2005.. just out of money in TS and PoG at WBC 2006

 

(6)Tomahawk Wixson (314)……Runs over MeCay and Pei on road to WW gold at WBC 2006 , 1st in HRC, 4th in WW...misses first ever back to back HRC championship in 2004 with 2nd place finish.

 

(7) Pro Consul Byrd (157)...wins HRC in 2004 and a strong PoG 2nd place in 2006. Always a tough player in the card driven wargames - and a hell of nice guy to play against.

 

(8)Euroweenie Slayer Nick Anner (196)...a HRC, ToC and PoG champ...will have to demonstrate strong showing in other titles to move up.

 

(9) Sir Gaberson (194)….Won WW in 2003…WtP 2nd 02…HRC 3rd 01…that’s quite a showing in the 3 shorter card driven games.. out of the money recently

 

(10) The Calculator MeCay (192)…1st PoG PBEM 2001-2002 (undefeated) AND 1st FtP 2002 {probably the toughest combo win given the level of competition in PoG and FtP)…VERY strong PBEM player (probably the best) …Needed a strong WBC showing to move higher - a got it in 2006 with a Twilight Struggle gold and a 2nd in Wilderness Wars

 

(11) Gentle George Young (154)...Grabbed gold in WtP 2003 & 2006...laurels in FtP, WtP and WW

 

(12) Defend the Rhine Hassard (145)…Grabs the PoG gold at WBC 2003 by beating Drueding…2nd PoG  & 6th HRC 2002…3rd ranked PoG player…wins WAM PoG 2004. Needs a strong showing in other card driven games to move higher.

 

(13) General Giddings (133)….3rd ranked FtP player...has showed flashes of glory in HRC

 

(14) Lord Mountford (130)….Won WtP 00 and 01…2nd in WtP in 2003...returns to WtP gold in 2004

 

(15) Comeback Fedin (113)….Surely, one of the greatest comeback victories in a "hard wood" WBC wargame tourney with the legendary win over Bruce Widgor in the Wilderness Wars 2005. That win also was responsible for his WBC team, The Nest of Spies, winning their first ever WBC Team Championship.

 

(16) Hammering Heinzman (80)...Empire of the Sun champ in 2005..always a decent showing in PoG.. 3rd place in Triumph of Chaos in 2006.

 

Also receiving votes (recent finish in top 3 of a recent BPA WBC card tourney)…

 

Winslow..decent showing in the CDWs he competes in, Burkhalter, Hank...won BKN 1996, 2nd FtP & 6th PoG in 2002, Doughan, Jim….won HRC 1997…strong first time showing 2002 in PoG, but no wood in 2003 PoG…Three 1st place finishes in BKN…probably has the best shot at the first gamer to win 3 of the Gang of Six titles and become a minor legend…plays a mean game of Shanghi  Nicholas Pei (72)…yep, the Master has a brother…won BtB WBC 2003, Birthday Boy Bender....only WBC FtP champ besided Pei and Mecay...Fuegi….HRC 1st  01…Won HRC PBEM (3yrs!) Taylor (WW 2nd 02), Emery (PoG 2nd 00.), Stone (PoG 1st 99), Tucker (WAM HRC 2003), Gibson (WBC TNW2) and Greenwood (WAM TNW 2003)…and we’re sure we missed a few, we’re open to any other “candidates”…

 

 

Victory in the Pacific (VIP)

Key tourneys: WBC August Baltimore and VIP March Midwest Open

 

Glen P religiously steers the VIP flock. His outstanding tourney in Wisconsin in March of each year always draw a strong field. Glen has also been voted best GM at WBC – no small feat! Glen has kept judicious records for all the significant VIP tourneys over the years.

 

The tourneys (WBC and the Midwest Open) can be found here:

 

http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/vippge.htm

http://www.gameaholics.com/vitp_articles/vitp_first_time.htm

 

War at Sea (WAS)

Key tourneys: WBC August Baltimore and someplace on the west coast

 

There is a lot of overlap in War the Sea and VIP gamers – due to the game systems and topic. I stopped by at WBC 2003. The GM, Vince Meconi, has an outstanding setup and system. WAS tourneys can be found here:

 

http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/waspge.htm

http://www.markevich.com/was/index.html

Breakout Normandy (BKN)

Key tourneys: WBC August Baltimore and BKN November Baltimore

 

These guys are tough gamers. They meet at WBC and at their own tourney in November (D-Day). The tourneys can be found here:

http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/bknpge.htm

http://www.boardgamers.org/specific/bkn06.htm

 

The Russian Campaign (TRC)

Key tourneys: WBC August Baltimore and PBEM tourney

 

When this game came out, it was the coolest thing since…Panzer Blitz!

The dedicated continue to slug it out. The tourneys can be found here:

http://www.boardgamers.org/yearbook/trcpge.htm

http://www.russiancampaign.net/

General Discussion Regarding the Ratings

 

So how to determine the best strategy gamer in the world?  First, let’s toss out things like chess (a simple 7 piece, 64 space board, rote memorization game, that even a lowly computer can win!…  just kidding, of course), multiplayer games like Diplomacy (no disrespect intended to this absolute classic, but it is a muli player strategy battle ), Risk (usually, our first “wargame”, but again a multiplayer game) and other traditional games that do not involve a bit of luck, complex historical situations, intricate map designs and a multiplicity of pieces with different functionalities.

 

Among the historical strategy boardgame hobby, there are three problems in developing overall player rankings:

 

       Diversity of Games. With thousands of titles, which game or games is most  demanding of “strategic play”?

 

       Level of competition. Thousands of players playing thousands of titles – At any one time, the level of competition for  particular titles varies greatly.

 

      Individual game rankings. The folks at AREA do an outstanding job at providing rankings for most of the individual games out there. However, they depend on the Game Masters (GMs) to submit the results for each tournament – and that frequently  does not happen.

 

Let’s use the following filters to determine the strategic games that are attracting the strongest competition:

 

      Solid level of competition: A field of at least 32 for the last  3 years at the World Boardgaming Championships (WBC)

 

       Demanding game: A strategy game that takes between 5 – 8 hours for a campaign game of the particular game

 

       Fanatical following: signs of this are consistent attendance, tourneys during the year dedicated to just that particular game, ne particular GM that is the librarian and referee for the game, etc

 

There are approximately 50 two player strategic games, out of World Boardgaming Championships (WBC) 100, that could be considered. Most quickly fall out of the pool due to one of  the three filters stated above. Some of the notable competitive games, with a long history at WBC, that fall out of the rankings are (note: # is average attendance for the particular title):

 

      Advanced Squad Leader (39): Tactical WWII game…3 year average attendance 1/3 of 10 year avg attendance

 

      Card games: We the People (36)…a shorter game than some of the other card games – but has a devoted following and For the People (22)….3 year attendance trend just under the minimum field size of 32 – but definitely has a devoted following

 

      Naval Games: Enemy in Sight (46), Attack Sub (34) and Naval War (25)…a separate group of naval games with strong attendance, but not 5 to 8 hour demanding campaign game

 

      UpFront (38): Has a strong following, but is a much shorter game than other titles.

 

 

After sorting thru all the wargame titles, we are left with a Gang of Six:

 

1)      Victory in the Pacific (VIP) (43) [41]

2)       Breakout Normandy (39) [19]

3)       Paths of Glory (42) [48]

4)       Hannibal (44) [34]

5)       War at Sea (37) [46]

6)       Russian Campaign (26) [23]

 

Note: (#) = avg WBC attendance, [#] = WBC 2006 attendance

 

It is from this Gang of Six, that we draw our rankings…however, we have another issue: player cross over. There is little overlap among the top players in a particular event. Why? Time. There is only so much gaming time and many of the events overlap at WBC – so it is not possible for a player to participate in more than one or two tourneys each WBC. Why not play one game one year, and another the next? The topics covered by the various games do not appeal to all the players…and, probably, a little laziness to learn a new system.

 

A few final comments:

 

1)       Only 7 players have ever won tourneys among more than 1 of these games

 

2)       There are really 4 types of groups of games here: BKN (operational,  VIP/WAS (naval strategic),  PoG/HRC (card driven wargames), TRC (strategic Eastern Front WWII)

 

3)      There is no way to determine which game(s) among the 6 represents the “most strategically challenging” or the relative strength of the competition.

 

4)       Most players either play 1 or 2 of the games – not all six.

 

5)       It is likely possible that declining attendance in BKN and TRC will drop these events out of the "BIG SIX" in 2009. Possible replacement events include: Wilderness Wars, For the People, ASL (if that attendance is rebounding) or the "classic" Africa Korps.

 

The point is, it will be very difficult to determine the “best strategy gamer” until the “pool of players” play the same game. And who wants to do that, with all the great titles out there!