These tournaments were played June 18-21 in Columbus, Ohio. Reported by Ben Peal:
Greetings, Methuselahs!
We've wrapped up the 2026 Week of Nightmares and Origins weekend, and we're proud to present Jess Nash as the 2026 North American Champion! Jess emerged victorious with a Path of Power and the Inner Voice political deck. We welcomed over 60 unique players during the week, including players visiting from Austria, Denmark, and Australia!
After eight tournaments held over five days at Game Table Adventures in Newark, OH and R Bar in Columbus, we shifted over to the Greater Columbus Convention Center for the Origins Game Fair. Kelly Schultz got things going Thursday morning, besting a field of 50 players with a V5 Toreador political deck. We had 51 players for the Thursday evening event, won by Will Matson with a V5 Ravnos Anarch bleed deck. Alex Romano threw everyone for a loop Friday morning, winning a 55-player tournament with a Henry Twister deck. VTES legend Martin Weinmayer was back to his old tricks on Friday evening, winning a 55-player tournament with Gangrel Anarchs.
On Saturday, we had 59 players for the North American Championship. Jess Nash took the early lead, contesting with his prey Karl Schaefer, who was also playing Path of Power and the Inner Voice politics, and eventually ousting him. Ned Leeds followed up by ousting Chris Malec's Ashur-uballit deck with Path of Caine Enkidu rush. Ned's deck stalled out and Kelly Schultz was able to take advantage, ousting him with a Cybele Scobax deck. In tense head-to-head, Jess uncorked some big damaging votes and finished off Kelly for the victory.
Wrapping things up on Sunday, we had a 33-player tournament which Martin Weinmayer won, pulling out his signature Stanislava deck.
Thanks again to all of you for another great Week of Nightmares and Origins! Shout outs to KGS Cards, Rick Stock, Mark Loughman, Jay Kristoff, and Alex Romano for prize support and tournament organization! And thanks as always to Origins, R Bar, and Game Table Adventures for their gracious hosting!
Congratulations to the tournament winners and again to Jess Nash for winning the 2026 North American Championship!
I look forward to seeing you all again next year!
Origins Thursday 1
50 players
Winner: Kelly Schultz playing V5 Toreador politics
Top 5 going into the final round:
1. Lasse Gringmuth Aagaard (Path of Power and the Inner Voice)
2. Marcos Acevedo, Sr. (V5 Malkavian)
3. Eric Albenze (Hecata)
4. Kelly Schultz (V5 Toreador)
5. Logan Jameson-Hatch (Group 5 Ventrue)
Results of the final round:
1. Marcos Acevedo, Jr. (1 VP)
2. Erik Albenze
3. Kelly Schultz (2 VP, #4 seed)
4. Logan Jameson-Hatch (2 VP, #5 seed)
5. Lasse Gringmuth Aagaard
Final standings here: https://www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/13215
Winning decklist: “2025 NAC Inner City Bypass” by skychan
Crypt (12 cards, min=27 max=36 avg=7.92)
3x Diana Iadanza 9 AUS CEL FOR PRE justicar Toreador:7
1x Annabelle Triabell 9 AUS CEL PRE dom for primogen Toreador:6
3x Modius 8 AUS CEL PRE obf prince Toreador:7
1x Catalina Vega 8 AUS CEL PRE for prince Toreador:6
1x Marcos Belegrad 8 AUS CEL PRE ani prince Toreador:7
1x Flávio Gonçalves 7 CEL PRE aus for prince Toreador:6
1x Maila 6 AUS PRE cel primogen Toreador:6
1x Mkhokheli 6 PRE aus cel for prince Toreador:6
Library (90 cards)
Master (29; 9 trifle)
2x Art Museum
2x Camarilla Conclave
1x Creepshow Casino
4x Dreams of the Sphinx
7x Information Highway
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x Protected Resources
7x Villein
2x Wider View
2x Zillah's Valley
Political Action (24)
1x Ancilla Empowerment
3x Banishment
8x Camarilla's Iron Fist
2x Disputed Territory
6x Kine Resources Contested
1x Meddling of Semsith, The
1x Neonate Breach
1x Parity Shift
1x Political Stranglehold
Action Modifier (25)
1x Alacrity
2x Awe
3x Bewitching Oration
5x Loup
5x Perfect Paragon
9x Voter Captivation
Action Modifier/Combat (8)
3x Force of Personality
5x Resist Earth's Grasp
Action Modifier/Reaction (2)
2x Scalpel Tongue
Combat (2)
2x Charismatic Aura
Origins - Thursday 2
51 players
Winner: Will Matson playing Ravnos Anarch bleed
Top 5 going into the final round:
1. Steve Williams (Group 3 Toreador)
2. Will Matson (Ravnos Anarch bleed)
3. Julian Acevedo (Group 5 Dementation bleed)
4. Albert Presto (V5 Lasombra)
5. Erik Albenze (V5 Tremere)
Results of the final round:
1. Will Matson (3 VP)
2. Erik Albenze
3. Albert Presto (1 VP)
4. Julian Acevedo (1 VP)
5. Steve Williams
Final standings here: https://www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/13216
Winning decklist: “[I'm the Face in Your] Dreams of Glass” by Anemone
Description: G7 Ravnos stealth bleed w/ defensive module
Crypt (12 cards, min=16 max=29 avg=5.58)
1x Noluthando 8 ANI OBF PRE aus cel Ravnos:7
1x Sreelekha 8 ANI FOR OBF PRE Ravnos:7
1x Hafthor Thorsteinsson 7 ANI OBF PRE pot Ravnos:7
1x Doc Martina 6 ANI OBF for pre Ravnos:7
1x Luciano Carvalho 6 ANI OBF pre Ravnos:7
1x Roberto Rivamonte 6 ANI OBF PRE Ravnos:7
2x Phaibun 5 OBF PRE ani Ravnos:7
1x Gathii 5 ANI PRE obf Ravnos:7
1x Jean-François 4 ani obf pre Ravnos:7
1x Zafira 4 PRE obf Ravnos:7
1x Oleg Kaprizov 3 obf pre Ravnos:7
Library (90 cards)
Master (18; 9 trifle)
1x Anarch Railroad
1x Club Illusion
5x Dabbler
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Fortune Teller Shop
1x From a Sinking Ship
1x Park Hunting Ground
1x Sudden Reversal
4x Villein
2x Week of Nightmares
Action (20)
16x Break the Bonds
2x Entrancement
2x Field Training
Action Modifier (33)
2x Elder Impersonation
2x Lost in Crowds
11x Memory Rift
3x Power of One
4x Spying Mission
2x Veil the Legions
9x Visions of Gehenna
Action Modifier/Combat (2)
2x Swallowed by the Night
Combat (2)
2x Majesty
Reaction (14)
3x Dogged Pursuit
4x Night Terrors
1x On the Qui Vive
6x Visions of Zapathasura
Event (1)
1x Narrow Minds
Origins - Friday 1
55 players
Winner: Alex Romano playing Henry Twister
Top 5 going into the final round:
1. Mariya Hyryk (Dmitra Brujah politics)
2. Lasse Gringmuth Aagaard (V5 Salubri combat)
3. Karl Schaefer (Path of Power and the Inner Voice politics)
4. Alex Romano (Henry Twister)
5. Marcus Acevedo, Jr. (V5 Ventrue politics)
Results of the final round:
1. Marcus Acevedo, Jr. (0.5 VP)
2. Alex Romano (1.5 VP)
3. Lasse Gringmuth Aagaard (1 VP)
4. Karl Schaefer
5. Mariya Hyryk (0.5 VP)
Final standings here: https://www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/13217
Winning decklist: “Would You Tell Picasso to Sell His Guitars?” by rayromanosucks
Crypt (12 cards, min=12 max=24 avg=4.5)
6x Henry Taylor 6 POT cel pre pro Brujah antitribu:3
2x Regilio, The Seeker of Akhenaten 3 aus obf Nosferatu:2
2x Zöe 3 AUS cel obf Malkavian:2
1x Isabel de Leon 3 AUS Toreador:2
1x Lena Rowe 3 aus obf pre Pander:2
Library (61 cards)
Master (49; 3 trifle)
1x Anarch Troublemaker
1x Antediluvian Awakening
1x Bleeding the Vine
5x Blessings of the Loa
1x Brothers Grimm
1x Direct Intervention
12x Dirty Contract
1x Fear of Mekhet
1x Giant's Blood
1x Life Boon
1x Millicent Smith, Puritan Vampire Hunter
2x Parthenon, The
1x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Barranquilla
1x Powerbase: Montreal
2x Protean
1x Protected Resources
1x Rack, The
1x Rumor Mill, Tabloid Newspaper, The
6x Slaughterhouse, The
1x Smiling Jack, The Anarch
2x Vessel
1x WMRH Talk Radio
2x Waste Management Operation
1x Wider View
Action (3)
3x Anima Gathering
Ally (1)
1x Carlton Van Wyk
Action Modifier (3)
1x Forgotten Labyrinth
2x Hedonism
Combat (3)
1x Disengage
2x Earth Meld
Reaction (2)
1x Delaying Tactics
1x On the Qui Vive
Origins - Friday 2
55 players
Winner: Martin Weinmayer playing Gangrel Anarchs
Top 5 going into the final round:
1. Martin Weinmayer (Gangrel Anarchs)
2. Albert Presto (Brujah Anarchs)
3. Mark Figuerola (Hecata)
4. Will Matson (Tzimisce Anarchs)
5. Mark Loughman (V5 Lasombra)
Results of the final round:
1. Albert Presto
2. Mark Loughman (1 VP)
3. Will Matson
4. Martin Weinmayer (3 VP)
5. Mark Figuerola (1 VP)
Final standings here: https://www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/13218
Winning decklist: “Gangrel Origins Friday 2” by Martin Weinmayer
Crypt (12 cards, min=18 max=28 avg=5.83)
1x Adrino Manauara 8 ANI DOM PRO pot baron Tzimisce:6
1x Ángel Guerrero 7 ANI DOM PRO baron Tzimisce:6
1x Massimiliano 7 ANI FOR pro baron Gangrel:6
2x Casey Snyder 6 PRO ani cel for baron Gangrel:6
2x Kuyén 6 ANI PRO baron Gangrel:6
1x André the Manipulator 6 FOR PRO Gangrel:5
1x Branimira 6 ANI dom pre pro baron Tzimisce:6
1x Kamile Paukstys 5 PRO ani for Gangrel:6
1x Nathan Turner 4 PRO ani Gangrel:6
1x Indira 3 PRO Gangrel:6
Library (90 cards)
Master (24; 7 trifle)
1x Anarch Free Press, The
1x British Museum, London, The
2x Carfax Abbey
2x Club Illusion
2x Direct Intervention
1x Elder Library
2x Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
1x Life Boon
2x Papillon
1x Powerbase: Los Angeles
1x Powerbase: Montreal
1x Rack, The
7x Villein
Action (1)
1x Constant Revolution
Political Action (2)
2x Revolutionary Council
Equipment (3)
2x Heart of Nizchetus
1x Sniper Rifle
Retainer (6)
1x Crypt's Sons
1x Mr. Winthrop
4x Raven Spy
Action Modifier (2)
2x Monkey Wrench
Action Modifier/Reaction (6)
6x Form of the Bat
Combat (17)
1x Donnybrook
10x Earth Meld
6x Form of Mist
Reaction (29)
8x Bait and Switch
5x Delaying Tactics
16x Organized Resistance
North American Championship
59 players
Winner: Jess Nash playing Power of Power and the Inner Voice politics
Top 5 going into the final round:
1. Karl Schaefer (Path of Power and the Inner Voice politics)
2. Ned Leeds (Path of Caine Enkidu rush)
3. Kelly Schultz (Cybele Scobax)
4. Jess Nash (Path of Power and the Inner Voice politics)
5. Chris Malec (Hecata Ashur-uballit)
Results of the final round:
1. Jess Nash (3 VP)
2. Karl Schaefer
3. Kelly Schultz (1 VP)
4. Ned Leeds (1 VP)
5. Chris Malec
Final standings here: https://www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/13220
Winning decklist: “Oderint dum metuant” by apoapsis
Description: "Let them hate, so long as they fear"
Crypt (12 cards, min=29 max=40 avg=8.75)
4x Aaradhya, The Callous Tyrant 10 ANI DOM FOR POT PRE cardinal Ventrue:6
2x Dark Selina 9 CEL POT PRE dom for cardinal Brujah antitribu:5
2x Věnceslava, The Implacable 9 DOM FOR POT PRE cel archbishop Brujah:6
1x Rexton "Savage" Abernathy 8 DOM POT PRE cel archbishop Brujah:6
1x Üresség 8 CEL POT PRE dom for archbishop Brujah:6
1x Khin Aye 7 POT PRE dom for priscus Ventrue:6
1x Concordia 6 DOM PRE for pot bishop Ventrue:6
Library (90 cards)
Master (26; 8 trifle)
1x Creepshow Casino
1x Dark Influences
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Elder Library
1x Giant's Blood
1x Gurchon Hall
1x Information Highway
1x Monastery of Shadows
1x Papillon
1x Privileged Position
1x Secure Haven
4x Unholy Sacrament
2x Ventrue Headquarters
6x Villein
2x Wash
Action (8)
8x Govern the Unaligned
Political Action (16)
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
1x Ancilla Empowerment
4x Banishment
6x Cold War
2x Kine Resources Contested
1x Political Stranglehold
Action Modifier (28)
4x Dominant Personality
2x Enkil Cog
4x Iron Glare
4x Perfect Paragon
4x Relentlessness
6x Unthinkable Humiliation
4x Voter Captivation
Combat (6)
6x Majesty
Reaction (6)
6x Deflection
Origins Sunday
33 players
Winner: Martin Weinmayer playing Stanislava
Final standings here: https://www.vekn.net/event-calendar/event/13219
Top 5 going into the final round:
1. Martin Weinmayer (Stanislava)
2. Alex Romano (Molly MacDonald Creeping Sabotage)
3. Mariya Hyryk (Kiasyd bleed)
4. Brad Cashdollar (Brujah Anarchs)
5. Andy Smith (G5-6 Tremere + Gargoyles)
Results of the final round:
1. Alex Romano (0.5 VP)
2. Martin Weinmayer (1.5 VP)
3. Mariya Hyryk
4. Andy Smith (0.5 VP)
5. Brad Cashdollar (0.5 VP)
Winning decklist: “The Return of the Queen” by Martin Weinmayer
Crypt (12 cards, min=36 max=44 avg=10.08)
5x Stanislava 11 ANI CEL DOM FOR PRO inner circle Gangrel:2
2x Hartmut Stover 10 CEL OBF PRO dom for archbishop Gangrel antitribu:3
1x Genevieve 10 ANI FOR PRO aus dom priscus Gangrel antitribu:2
1x Xaviar (ADV) 10 ABO ANI FOR PRO aus cel pot justicar Gangrel:3
2x Ingrid Rossler 9 ANI FOR PRO dom prince Gangrel:2
1x Mark Decker 8 CEL PRO ani for obf pot prince Gangrel:3
Library (90 cards)
Master (24; 7 trifle)
2x Backways
1x British Museum, London, The
1x Camarilla Conclave
2x Direct Intervention
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Elder Library
1x Giant's Blood
2x Jake Washington
2x Monastery of Shadows
2x Papillon
1x Secure Haven
6x Villein
1x Wider View
Action (8)
8x Govern the Unaligned
Political Action (8)
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancient Influence
2x Ancilla Empowerment
2x Banishment
1x Political Stranglehold
1x Reins of Power
Equipment (2)
2x Heart of Nizchetus
Action Modifier (18)
2x Conditioning
2x Earth Control
2x Enkil Cog
6x Forced March
6x Instantaneous Transformation
Action Modifier/Reaction (6)
3x Form of the Bat
3x Murmur of the False Will
Combat (12)
4x Earth Meld
8x Form of Mist
Reaction (12)
8x Deflection
4x Sense the Savage Way
Thanks to Ben Peal for organising these tournaments, and thanks to any helpers, sponsors and of course the fantastic players!
