1st World Blitz (7-minute) Tantrix Championships
Won by Matt Peek (NZL) & Tamás Gombkötő (HUN)
6136
Introduction:

To get people in the mood for the main World Championship and in response to a heavily supported player suggestion, two blitz qualifying tournaments were held in August with everyone playing at the same time and all games in each qualifier played in one three-hour period. There were about 50 entrants from 13 countries in total, with some players taking part in both qualifiers. The winners and runners-up in the two tournaments played best-of-5 semi-finals, Finals and a 3rd place playoffs in September and October.

Matt Peek TGM (NZL) added the 1st World Blitz Tantrix title to his double 'full-length' World Championship by beating Rick Yagodich (GBR) in the Final which was held just after the WTC draw. Every game was exciting and close with Matt playing well but Rick pushing him hard and achieving a big turnaround towards the endgame in the game that he won, g2. Matt is a worthy champion though, winning 13 of the 15 games he played in the qualifiers, SF and Final, and only losing solitary games to the players who ended up in 2nd and 3rd. Miklos Hansel (HUN) beat Katarina Krausova (SVK) in the match for 3rd place.

Tamás Gombkötő (HUN) won the 1st World Junior Blitz Matt by beating 'full-length' World Junior Champion Simon Wright (GBR) in the Final and his compatriot Attila Mikulan (HUN) beat Joe Ruby (USA) for 3rd place in this event.
1ST WORLD BLITZ TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - KO PHASE (best of 5)
Main - FINAL 01-Sep-03 Pekko Matt Peek TGM (NZL)
3 - 1
Rick Yagodich (GBR) RickY
Main - 3 & 4 14-Oct-03 katka Katarina Krausova (SVK)
0 - 3
Miklos Hansel (HUN) mikellos
Main - SF1 30-Aug-03 Pekko Matt Peek TGM (NZL)
3 - 0
Katarina Krausova (SVK) katka
Main - SF2 30-Aug-03 RickY Rick Yagodich (GBR)
4 - 1
Miklos Hansel (HUN) mikellos
1ST WORLD JUNIOR (U16) BLITZ TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - KO PHASE (best of 5)
U16 - FINAL 12-Oct-03 tommg Tamás Gombkötő (HUN)
3.5 - 1.5
Simon Wright (GBR) shunter
U16 - 3 & 4 15-Oct-03 blick Attila Mikulan (HUN)
3 - 0
Joe Ruby (USA) JMSC
U16 - SF1 28-Aug-03 tommg Tamás Gombkötő (HUN)
4 - 1
Attila Mikulan (HUN) blick
U16 - SF2 default JMSC Joe Ruby (USA)
ld - wd
Simon Wright (GBR) shunter

QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Qualifier 1 was played on Sunday 10 August at 07.00 GMT (= 08.00 BST / 09.00 CET / 10.00 EET / 15.00 WAT / 17.00 AET / 19.00 NZT / 03.00 US EDT), lasting 3 h 20 m.

BLITZ QUALIFIER 1 RESULTS

Qualifier 2 was played on Saturday 23 August at 16.00 GMT (= 17.00 BST / 18.00 CET / 19.00 EET / 04.00 NZT Sun / 12.00 US EDT / 09.00 US PDT), lasting 3 h.

BLITZ QUALIFIER 2 RESULTS

BLITZ TOURNAMENT RULES

Differences between Blitz and normal tournaments:

The rules for this tournament have been simplified to allow the rounds to be played in quick succession without too much chaos, eg. the normal "Tournament Points" system and colour preference conventions will not apply. You can now find the Blitz rules here.

Please also note that Blitz tournaments will not count towards standard tournament Elo ratings. Also, if this first (trial) blitz championship is a success, it may run in a similar format next year, but the dates and times will be advertised much earlier than this year. Alternatively, if other people decide that the simplified rules for blitz tournaments makes them happy to run a few of them next year, we may introduce a system of points based on positions in each blitz tournament that counts towards an overall blitz champion at the end of the year. Entries may also be accepted right up to the start of the tournament in future - it will be easier to allow that once we get a clearer idea of how many people are likely to enter these tournaments and how chaotic they turn out to be in practice!

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