The 2025 FWC were remarkable for the absences, four times champion John couldn't make it, neither could three of the four Spanish regulars. Last minute work commitments meant Andreas Z didn't turn up. That left Richard scrambling for fill-in players. At one time, he played on two tables simultaneously as Elizabeth, winning both! This feat was equalled by Anton, who pulled off two Imperial Army victories as Maria Theresa on two tables at once.

All this meant that it wasn't obvious just how many points would be needed to get through to the final. I was confident though, having had a lucky win on Friday as Russia, followed by a victory with Prussia despite early subsidy reductions. Nine points with France and a shared victory as Austria meant I had first choice for the final and I opted for Prussia.

Ranged against me were Bernd as Maria Theresa, Maurice as Elizabeth, in his first FWC final, and in fourth place Christian as Pompadour.

In the CAFE final in June, my Prussian defence had fallen to bits pretty quickly against Richard's sweeping attack with the Imperial Army covered by large numbers of heavily armed Austrians. Only the early demise of the Tsarina, giving Alex's Swedes a cheeky win robbed Richard of the championship. Lesson to be learnt, not to stupidly stick to the original plan (in this case, heavy defence in Silesia) when the outcome is being decided elsewhere. This time, I would defend strongly in Saxony and be flexible. What could possibly go wrong?

Having witnessed Bernd rout Steffen's Russians with a brisk spoiling attack in turn two resulting in a −9 retreat, I decided to try the same against Maurice. The hearts spent to just bruise him a bit would be sorely missed later.

In Silesia, the weak Keith and Schwerin delayed Bernd a little, but gave ground quickly to avoid facing overwhelming numbers. Winterfeldt kept Hildi off until Austrian support arrived, then rejoined Friedrich in Saxony.

The Hanoverians managed to set up a reasonably good triangle defence, Cumberland survived the early skirmishes and tied down Soubise in the south.

Having drawn only a nine of clubs by turn three, I had to defend against the Russians in hearts, not ideal given the proximity of the Austrians and the opportunity given to the Swedes to nip past and take all five 1st order objectives. But needs must when the devil drives. That left diamonds against Austria and spades, of which I had plenty, for France.

Bernd overran Silesia pretty quickly, but I prevailed in the early combats around Radeburg. Keith's long march through Poland, although it tied down larger Austrian forces and even distracted the Russians for a while, may well not have been the best strategy, but I had gone for it to spread a little uncertainty. Probably won't be doing that again for some time.

Maurice's Russians kept coming and coming, he always seemed to have the right card to take a small retreat and try again the next turn. I had the French pretty well tied down, even at the expense of a significant expense of spades, but in Saxony the supply of diamonds dried up and Radeburg fell, so it was down to desperate guerilla tactics to stave off an Austrian victory.

Turn 10 saw India, followed by Lord Bute on turn 11.

I had managed to sneak a second general into Silesia, but Bernd was too wily to let an objective be recaptured without a fight. With the French in check and one Hanoverian objective still under my control, I should have gone all in with my remaining spades to liberate something in Silesia. It just didn't occur to me.

Meanwhile, the indomitable Russians had me hemmed in and as the Swedes had taken all five primaries, so no miracle of the House of Brandenburg would be forthcoming.

Comment by Richard Sivél: Indeed, the Swedes held all their 1st order objectives for ca. 3 turns, and would have won immediately on a Russian exit. However, the situation was solved by Sweden leaving on turn 15.

Small consolation was to be found thwarting the final Austrian moves and avoiding the consequent consultation of the convoluted tie-breaker rules.

The final desperate stand, encircled near Küstrin, was a foregone conclusion. Maurice won taht battle on turn 16, and so he became a worthy champion having battled long and hard in so many championships. Well done!

Now, I'll just have to go to York and lose ignominiously as Prussia to make it three of three.

Comments by Bern Preiß

Prussia was a tough opponent, knowing of how to take advantage of even the slighest Austrians mistakes. After some turns, I was superior in diamonds. After eliminating the Prussian supply train in Saxony, I was not happy about the French advancing in Saxony for my support.

I did not watch the Russian moves too carefully. Maybe I wuold have had the option to let some Prussians march northwards, by not pressing too hard in Saxony? But that is theory. In fact, I was quite surprised how fast the Prussians collapsed.

Concldusion: The allies had managed to gun down the Prussians, and Maurice's Russia was the one, who took best advantage of it.

Final comment: Quite at the end, I moved one of my Austria to Löbau (and not to Görlitz). This allowed the Prussians to pass by back to Saxony and to protect Muskau. This was fatal! — Muskau was critical throughout the game. I could have taken it much earlieer (ca. turn 10?), but then the "sneaking general" (which Guy is mentioning) would have caused many problems in Silesia. I therefore did not conquer Muskau in that earlier turn, but acted against the sneaking general. A mistake? We will never know.