New world champion in Carcassonne from Japan

The ninth World championsship in the tactical boardgame Carcassonne is settled. The winner: Takafumi Mochiduki from Japan.
I’m very high, so happy. I was lucky, the last tile with the church made me the winner, he says.
Barrikaden.se was in Essen – with Magnus Anderberg both as the Swedish contestant and reporter in the championship.

The japanese winner Takafumi Mochiduki at the traditional large finalisttable, with big tiles and meeples.

The most even championship ever. With the youngest winner ever – and the first winner from outside of Europe. 34 nations was represented to compete when the world championship in Carcassone took place at the enormous Spiel-convent with approximately 150 000 visitors. After the six first games in the preliminary round the veteran Matej Tabac from Slovakia was the only player with six wins.
– I’m satisfied, it’s really hard to make it to the finals. I really like this tournament, I’ve been here a couple of years now and it’s always a good atmosphere. You become friends with the other contestants, it’s great, Tabac says.
Qualified for the semifinals together with the youngest competitor in the tournament, 19 year old Takafumi Mochiduki from Japan, and Ricardo Gomes from Portugal with five wins. And behind them eight players ended up with four wins – and the chance to grab the last spot. A tight struggle the reigning champion Panteli Litsardopolus won against the 2012 champion Martin Mojzis after having the same ”buchholz” (points according to competition) and little more then twelve points in his favour.
– Of course I’m disappointed, being so close and everything. But at the same time, I didn’t do any big mistakes. I just wasn’t lucky enough. I reckon there was one more building in my games I could have closed for nine points but it still wouldn’t be enough, Mojzis says.
In the semifinals the youngster Mochiduki won against Ricardo Gomes and the Greek champ was the first to beat Matej Tabac. The Slovak later on won the bronzemedal. Actually his fourth of that value in CC World championship – without reaching the final.
– My friends said I had to go to Essen and win this year but I know how hard the competition is. I’m happy with the bronze.

The semifinalist – Ricardo Gomez, Panteli Litsardopolus, Takafumi Mochiduki and Matej Tabac. Together with tre creator of the game – Klaus-Jürgen Wrede.

The final in the world championship of Carcassonne has become a classic with big bricks and meeples placed out on several small tables, and the contestants given twice as much time, half an hour per player. And though the game was tight, Takafumi Mochiduki took an early lead and held on to it after some well played moves.
– I would say it’s 70 percent skill and 30 percent luck. And today I had some luck on my side, the Mochiduki says when Barrikaden.se gets an exclusive interview using an Japanese interpreter.
– Perhaps I wasted all my luck going to the semifinal, that close call, the Greek champ says.
And former champ that was to bee. Because the struggle ended in struggle to get the last church with a road, and the chances was one out of three for Pantelis to get it and most meeples on the grass, for fifteen points.
– I was lucky, the last tile with the church made me the winner, Mochiduki says.
– I was high when I got and, so happy when I realized I’ve won the game.
And Pantelis was a good sport afterwards.
– He played better, therefore he won. And I’m not disappointed, I’m satisfied with my second final in a row. I didn’t expect that when I started this morning. I haven’t been training as hard as last year.
Martin Mojciz:
The best player won, Pantelis came to me and Matej (Tabac) afterwards and asked what he did wrong and I told him he made a few misstakes in the game, and that was enough to loose this time.
Takafumi Mochiduki, what is your best tip for the players at home struggling to get really good in carcassonne?
– Always try to score points in several ways with your tile, for instance when you have a church and build something around it. That’s an easy tip you can keep in mind.