Hey Diplomacy Fans! We just completed a special event: The 50th Anniversary of Origins Game Fair. Starting with Baltimore in 1975, the convention moved around the country each year until settling in Columbus, Ohio in 1996. Origins is one of the oldest Diplomacy tournaments in the world.

As the tournament director (TD) of Origins, I also celebrated a different sort of 50: tournaments organized. That's the most by any organizer in the history of the game. Origins was the first tournament I played in and I've been the TD since 2011. Fitting that my hometown convention becomes the 50th tournament. In honor of the event, we gave out special golden anniversary gifts to our players: challenge coins, "Order of the Knife" pins, and commemorative pens.

The annual Diplomacy tournament was best two of three rounds running Friday and Saturday. We also hosted a teaching round on Thursday for both Diplomacy and the upcoming Era of Empire (https://renegadegamestudios.com/diplomacy-era-of-empire/). We had 27 players participate in the teaching event and 30 players participate in the tournament.

Robert Zahn emerged victorious with two strong board tops, including a huge final year to seal the Midwest Diplomacy Championship. Zahn previously won the event in 2006 and 2016. Robert Lacy earned the coveted Golden Blade award for "best stab" in the tournament by taking out two potential tournament winners in the same game. Ryan Feathers won the "Best Diplomat" award for playing peacekeeper among infighting smaller Powers against a strong alliance that was rolling the board, setting up an effective defense.

Top Board:
1st - Robert Zahn
2nd (tie) - Ryan Feathers
2nd (tie) - Robert Lacy
4th - Phil Burk
5th - Anton Wilsbach
6th - Geoff Mize
7th - Jeff Hayman

Best Country:
Best Austria - Jack Wilsbach
Best England - Jeff Hayman
Best France - Geoff Mize
Best Germany - Evan Walter & Cody Gates
Best Italy - Chris Glassburn
Best Russia - Andrew Boyd
Best Turkey - Phil Burk

Special Awards:
Midwest Diplomacy Champion - Robert Zahn
Golden Blade - Robert Lacy
Best Diplomat - Ryan Feathers
Best Propagandist - Jason Covitz