Walbert Ibarra is the 2025 champion of Chile!

Reported by Daniel Bravo, VEKN National Coordinator of Chile (to the left above), with comment from the champion (to the right above):

On November 31st, at the Piedra Bruja store, the Chilean National Tournament was held, bringing together 20 players. The event ran smoothly and showcased a high level of competition. Points started being distributed from the very first round, but in the second round some tables ended in a tie. All of this made the third round crucial in determining who would advance to the final table.

In first place, Consuelo Anguita qualified with 2 GW and 8 VP using her Malkyarishat deck. Agustín von Schnake secured second place with 2 GW and 7 VP, playing his Toreador V5 deck. Third place went to Jackson Iribarren with 1 GW and 7 VP and his Gangrel V5 deck. Also qualifying were Sebastián Aguayo with his Barons deck with Protean V5, and lastly, almost missing the cut, Walbert Ibarra with his Shalmat deck.

The final table was very exciting. With time running out, Agustín managed to take Consuelo out of the table, and Walbert went for the whole table. Walbert Ibarra is the new national champion, taking home two commemorative trophies and a bottle of wine.

This are the words from Walbert:
"Something I greatly appreciate in a tournament is having a comfortable, centrally located venue that’s easy to reach—and in my opinion, this was fulfilled exceptionally well. Speaking more about the organization, I can say the event was very well run. Round launches were quick and orderly, and having a huge, clearly visible timer was fantastic. It was a competitive and pleasant event, with an attentive judge and an organizing team that showed a lot of care in every detail.

As for the final table, it was challenging. In my favor was the fact that I already knew three of the decks, since I had faced them in the preliminary rounds. One of the advantages of being the only combat deck at the table is that you can control the tempo of the game, since you decide the exact moment a minion leaves play, which heavily influences that player. There’s also the constant threat of being able to cross-rush political decks if they start directing the tails of their political actions at you; this pushes them to hurt the table instead and leave you alone. I feel I had a bit of luck with the seating, as being between two intercept decks—and their fear of the temporis combo that sends a minion to torpor when blocked—allowed me to play all my actions calmly and without major issues.

It was a tight table, and once one of the political decks was eliminated, I was able to execute the plan I had from the beginning: quickly remove my prey and grand-prey, knowing that my predator could deal very little damage to me while I took out two players in consecutive turns. With the round close to ending, my opponent conceded, giving up the chance to earn half a point. This was a great display of sportsmanship and strong competitive spirit."

Walbert Ibarra´s tournament winning deck: “Shalmath”
By Nerijus Mikalajūnas and Bram Van Stappen, also won the EC 2025.
https://vdb.im/decks/384c375ca

Crypt (12)
5x Shalmath   10 POT PRE TEM  True Brujah:6
1x Andre LeRoux  3 aus    Toreador:5
1x Alu    2 obf    Banu Haqim:5
1x New Blood   2 san    Blood Brother:ANY
1x Alex Wilkins  1 cel    Caitiff:5
1x Anarch Convert 1     Caitiff:ANY
1x Donald Cargill 1 aus    Caitiff:5
1x Walker Grimes  1 ani    Caitiff:5

Library (70)
Master (13; 2 trifle)
1x Archon Investigation
6x Ashur Tablets
1x Perfectionist
1x Powerbase: Montreal
1x Secure Haven
1x Tabriz Assembly
1x Vessel
1x Wider View

Action (7)
7x Summon History

Ally (3)
1x Gregory Winter
1x Nephandus
1x Tye Cooper

Equipment (2)
1x Eye of Hazimel
1x Heart of Nizchetus

Retainer (3)
1x Mr. Winthrop
1x Omael Kuman
1x Twisted Bloodhound

Action Modifier (8)
6x Domain of Evernight
2x Enkil Cog

Combat (34)
5x Decapitate
7x Disarm
8x Majesty
10x Outside the Hourglass
4x Taste of Vitae

This was the first national tournament in which a woman reached the final table. Consuelo is a milestone in the history of Chilean VTES.

Many thanks to the players for making the tournament so enjoyable, and to Piedra Bruja and Casio for hosting the event.

Thanks for this report, and thanks to all the players, sponsors and anyone else that helped out!

Joscha Düll is the 2025 champion of Germany!

This event took place on November 8. Reported by Rudolf Scholz:

24 motivated players, among them guests from the Netherlands and Austria, gathered at the Evangelical Church Parish of Southern Darmstadt-Eberstadt, welcomed by non-playing organisor Jan Sonnenberg and Germanys National Coordinator and Prince of Darmstadt Rudolf »The Bard« Scholz.

Since the reigning German Champion Alexander Tüschen was not present, a new champion would arise. Former European Champion Joscha Düll was very well prepared, featuring an old-school Lasombra deck updated by the options provided by the new Sabbat cards and the Path of Power and the Inner Voice. Combined with excellent play, this allowed him to collect unmatched 3 game-wins in the preliminary rounds, granting him the last choice during the seating dance.

Standings before finals:
1) Joscha Düll, 3 GWs and 8.5 VPs
2) Steffen Waschul, 2 GWs and 8 VPs
3) Michael Jakoby-Bicanic, 1 GW and 6 VPs
4) Erica Ferreira de Souza, 1 GW and 5 VPs
5) Ali Almadhi, 1 GW and 4 VPs

Joscha chose the best seat possible, and his starting hand allowed him to grab the reins and set the pace of the final table right from the start. However, he needed to keep persistance until 2 hours and 5 minutes of play (of 2h 15 min), when he could secure his victory by achieving a second victory point. Congratulations!

Final results: Joscha GW with 2.5 VPs, Steffen 1 VP and Ali 0.5 VP.

The winning deck list: “Lasombra Path of Power v2” by Joscha “Yosha” Düll
Deck comment: See VTES forum

Crypt (12 cards)
4x Ambrosio Luis Monçada, Plenipotentiary 10 DOM OBT POT PRE aus for cardinal Lasombra:2
3x Antonio Delgado 9 DOM OBT POT tha archbishop Lasombra:2
1x Alvaro, The Scion of Angelica 9 OBT POT dom pre archbishop Lasombra:2
1x Francisco Domingo de Polonia 9 DOM OBT POT PRE pro archbishop Lasombra:2
3x Gratiano 8 DOM OBT obf pot priscus Lasombra:2

Library (78 cards)
Master (22; 6 trifle)
1x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Elysian Fields
1x Fear of Mekhet
1x Giant´s Blood
1x Gurchon Hall
1x Information Highway
1x Power Structure
1x Powerbase: Madrid
1x Privileged Position
1x Regent
6x Unholy Sacrament
6x Villein

Action (6)
6x Govern the Unaligned

Political Action (18)
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancilla Empowerment
1x Banishment
4x Cold War
4x Empires Fall
5x Kine Resources Contested
1x Neonate Breach
1x War of Ages

Action Modifier (19)
1x Blanket of Night
2x Dominant Personality
4x Magnetic Authority
6x Shadow Play
4x Shroud of Absence
1x Shroud of Night
1x Unthinkable Humiliation

Action Modifier/Reaction (1)
1x Ominous Chorus

Combat (4)
1x Oubliette
3x Shadow Body

Reaction (8)
8x Deflection

 

There was plenty of prize support, thus every player could return home happy. Special thanks go to  Black Chantry Productions for various decks, Ultra Pro for deck boxes, sleeves, and card holders, Jesper Bøje and the EC 2025 team for EC gifts, Jan Sonnenberg for German Nationals deck boxes for every participant, Ginés Quiñonero and Noora Hirvonen for signed cards, and Michael Jakoby-Bicanic for signed artwork picked up at the EC. Additional thanks go to Kristian Willenbacher and Ali Almadhi for sweets and chocolate.

Thanks for this report and thanks to all organisers, sponsors and players!