Reported by Maaike Kerschot, VEKN National Coordinator of Belgium:

Sunday 19th of July the Belgian National championships were held as part of a two day event in Mechelen. A diverse cast of 25 players from Belgium and neighbouring countries, all the way up to Denmark brought along a great mix of both old and new decks. 

Results after round 3:
1. 2 GW 7 VP Jeroen van Oort
2. 1 GW 7.5 VP Raúl Ordóñez García
3. 1 GW 5 VP Jesper Bøje
4. 1 GW 4 VP 114 TPs Tom Van Coillie
5. 1 GW 4 VP 108 TPs Ben Winkeler

Final result: Ben Winkeler 0.5 VP, Tom Van Coillie 1.5 VP, Jeroen van Oort 1.5 VP and tournament victory because he was first seed.

The winning deck: "Oldskool path of death" by Jeroen van oort

Crypt (12 cards)
5x Erlik             10 AUS CEL FOR NEC THN      Harbinger of Skulls:3
2x Babalawo Alafin    7 AUS FOR NEC ani          Harbinger of Skulls:4
1x Erebus             7 AUS FOR NEC dem          Harbinger of Skulls:3
1x Mina Grotius       6 FOR NEC cel              Harbinger of Skulls:3
2x Nicomedes          5 aus for nec vic          Harbinger of Skulls:4
1x Solomon Batanea    5 AUS FOR nec              Harbinger of Skulls:4

Library (90 cards)
Master (14; 5 trifle)
2x Direct Intervention
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Erciyes Fragments, The
1x Giant's Blood
2x Liquidation
1x Powerbase: Montreal
5x Villein

Action (8)
8x Disciple of Lazarus

Ally (8)
8x Emerald Legionnaire

Equipment (1)
1x Heart of Nizchetus

Action Modifier (5)
5x Trochomancy

Action Modifier/Combat (3)
3x Breath of Thanatos

Combat (26)
2x Aura Reading
5x Hidden Strength
5x Rolling with the Punches
6x Target Vitals
4x Taste of Vitae
4x Weighted Walking Stick

Reaction (23)
4x Delaying Tactics
7x Eyes of Argus
2x My Enemy's Enemy
3x On the Qui Vive
7x Telepathic Misdirection

Event (2)
2x Unmasking, The

Congratulations Jeroen, and thanks to all players, organisers and sponsors!

The finalists: Sebastián, Andrea, Gaby, Walbert and Hernan.

Reported by Daniel Bravo, VEKN National Coordinator of Chile:

On Saturday, July 4th, the second round of the GP in Chile was played at the Tablecat store in Rancagua. Despite the cold weather that day, 14 players attended the event. We also know that the distance prevented some players from Santiago from coming, but the tournament went smoothly. On this occasion, I decided to participate and set up two tables with five players each and one table with four. The three rounds were played without issues, and only one table in round two ended due to time. There was a wide variety of decks in play, with the presence of the local Rancagua team—who usually play on Fridays at the store—and a player who came from Santa Cruz.

During the tournament, I managed to score 1 victory point in the first rounds, and in the third, with a Khazar’s Diary deck under control, I blew up the table with a Revolutionary Council, which placed me in third place in the ranking. While the other tables were still playing, Sebastián Zunino was reaching the final. He was known as “the promise of Rancagua,” but when the last table finished, everything changed, leaving the ranking as follows:
1. Walbert Ibarra with Khazar’s Diary 2 GW 7 VPs
2. Hernán Rodríguez with Matasunta Rush 2 GW 7 VPs
3. Andrea Canto with Kiasyd Bleed 1 GW 6 VPs
4. Daniel with Barons and Protean 1 GW 5 VPs
5. Consuelo with Sabbat Political Path 1 GW 5 VPs

Before starting the final table, I informed the players that, as part of my role as GP organizer and also because I wanted to give Sebastián the chance to play a GP final, I decided to drop from the final table. Consuelo followed my example and also dropped, allowing Gaby to play the final. The final table was as follows:
1. Walbert Ibarra with Khazar’s Diary 2 GW 7 VPs
2. Hernán Rodríguez with Matasunta Rush 2 GW 7 VPs
3. Andrea Canto with Kiasyd Bleed 1GW 6 VPs
4. Sebastián Zunino with Mithras and friends 1 GW 4.5 VPs
5. Gabriela Espina Salinas with Malkavian Bleed 2 VPs

The final was very tough, but in the end, Khazar’s Diary managed to win the table with 3 victory points. Below is the winner’s report of this GP:

Brief GP 2 Report

Round 1: I was predator to a Malkavian, who was predator to a Tremere-Ventrue mix, who was predator to a Protean political intercept deck, who was predator to an Assamite intercept deck. I started developing my game since the Assamite seemed slow and without intercept. The game unfolded mainly among the other three players. I focused on building my board. At one point, the Assamite played No Secrets, but I placed a Pentex on him, which gave me a couple of turns to keep acting and blocking his attempts to remove it. This fueled Khazar. When Khazar reached 7 counters, my prey removed his prey, the Protean deck eliminated the Assamite, and I redirected a bleed from my predator. With more than 10 minions in play, I closed the table.

Round 2: I was predator to a Kiasyd deck, which was contained by a combat Malkavian antitribu deck, who was predator to another Malkavian deck, who was predator to an Unnamed deck with Ministry allies. The Unnamed deck started very slowly, giving me time to develop my board while spending little pool. When Khazar reached 7 counters, my prey was exhausted by the combat Malkavian, who also contained the bleed Malkavian and eliminated him. I removed my prey, leaving three players. With around 15 minions in play, and in honor of time, the other players conceded. Very honorable and correct.

Round 3: A 4-player table. I was predator to an intercept deck and prey to another intercept deck. I had no chance. I brought out three small vampires, all sent to torpor quickly. I brought out a fourth vampire and was eliminated.

Final: I was predator to a Matasunta deck, who was predator to a Malkavian, who was predator to a Kiasyd, who was predator to a Ventrue-Tremere deck. Seeing Matasunta start with two small vampires, I accelerated my game to deploy as many minions as possible to withstand his attacks later. My predator blocked a couple of actions, but I managed to build a strong board. When Matasunta entered play, my allies blocked his combats, feeding Khazar. Once Khazar reached 7 counters, I recruited 5 wraiths per turn. Matasunta eliminated his prey, then the Kiasyd eliminated my predator, leaving three players. I recruited 5 more wraiths and eliminated Matasunta, staying at 15 pool. The Kiasyd deck had 3 vampires and could mathematically deal me 15 pool, with no way for me to block. He finished his turn, leaving me at 3 pool, and the table ended.

The tournament winning deck: "Khazar"

Crypt (12 cards)
1x Isabel Giovanni       5 DOM NEC pot  Giovanni:2
1x Francesca Giovanni      4 dom nec pot  Giovanni:2
1x Gloria Giovanni       4 DOM nec    Giovanni:2
1x Cristofero Giovanni     3 nec pot    Giovanni:2
1x Lia Milliner        3 dom nec    Giovanni:3
1x Mario Giovanni        3 nec pot    Giovanni:2
1x Rudolfo Giovanni      3 NEC      Giovanni:2
1x Marciana Giovanni, Investigator 2 dom      Giovanni:2
1x Paul DiCarlo, The Alpha     2 pot      Giovanni:2
3x Tupdog          1 POT VIS    Gargoyle:3

Library (90 cards)
Master (23; 5 trifle)
2x Acquired Ventrue Assets
1x Coven, The
2x Direct Intervention
4x Jake Washington
5x Liquidation
2x Not to Be
2x Pentex(TM) Subversion
1x Powerbase: Cape Verde
4x Vessel

Action (26)
1x Aranthebes, The Immortal
8x Embrace, The
12x Khazar's Diary (Endless Night)
5x Sudario Refraction

Ally (22)
1x Carlton Van Wyk
11x Draeven Softfoot
1x Felix "Fix" Hessian
1x Gianna di Canneto
1x Giulia Giovanni Abruzzina
1x Gregory Winter
1x Leonardo, Mortician
1x Mylan Horseed
1x Ossian
1x Repo Man
2x Shambling Hordes

Action Modifier (6)
6x Call of the Hungry Dead

Reaction (10)
5x Deflection
3x Delaying Tactics
2x On the Qui Vive

Event (3)
1x FBI Special Affairs Division
2x Unmasking, The

We thank the people at Tablecat for the space and warm welcome, the VTES Chile organizing team, and all the players for their participation.

Congratulations Walbert and thanks for the report Daniel, and thanks to all players for attending!

The finalists: Shannon, Harry, Nick, Rich and Simon.

This event took place on July 18. Reported by Steve Harris, VEKN National Coordinator of Australia:

We had 17 players for our Grand Prix tournament in Brisbane this year. Players travelled from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and New Zealand to participate. It was a full weekend of VTES and other games, enjoyed by all.

Games were tough and every single player got at least half a VP. Only 2 people ended up with 0.5vps, which means almost everyone got at least one oust in the preliminary rounds.

Standings before the final:
1. Nick Miller 2 GW, 7 VP
2. Richard Aumann 2 GW, 5 VP
3. Simon Reed 2 GW, 4 VP
4. Harry Ross 1 GW, 5 VP
5. Shannon Dowley 1 GW, 4 VP

Shannon did extremely well with a hastily built deck assembled the night before from a box of cards he had brought with him. Simon Reed and Ke Carlton assisted him in assembling the deck, and I’m pretty sure it was after midnight when he had finished it. It may have even had a couple more changes first thing the next morning.

The table progressed roughly as one would expect. Simon got out about 5 minions, including an early Double Deuce and applied constant pressure to the BH. The Banu rushed mostly backwards to try and keep their predator under control. Alonso tooled up and did what he could forwards. Nick got out a big cap vamp initially and governed down, flicking bleeds forwards and getting a few zombies supported by Unmasking. The Lasombra wasn’t seeing as much stealth as he would like and had to play a bit careful.

An early play of the Coven by the Lasombra largely kept this table alive with extra blood and no one really seemed to get a strong advantage. Eventually Path of Death and Soul managed to oust the Lasombra and some time later the table timed out. It was a close battle but well deserved in the end.

Final result: Nick Miller 1.5 VP and tournament victory. Simon Reed 0.5 VP. Rich Aumann 0.5 VP. Harry Ross 0.5 VP.

The tournament winning deck: “Path of death ally toolbox” by Nick Miller
Comment: Play as a toolbox rather than swarm. Bring out the support cards The Unmasking, Dance of the Dead, Vagabond Mystic, Fiorella. Then there are options to block, bleed, rush with the Freakish Conglomerations. Possibility to lunge with Shroud, Govern, Fame. 

Crypt (12 cards)
1x Abderrahim, Death's Hand    9 AUS DOM OBL POT tha       Lasombra:6
1x Eulogio Sánchez de los Reyes  8 AUS DOM OBL THA         Tremere:6
2x Sakura, The Merciless     7 DOM OBL THA aus pot       Lasombra:6
1x Parijat, the Dark Oracle    7 AUS DOM FOR OBL         Hecata:6
1x Aintzane Arriaga        6 DOM OBL POT           Lasombra:6
1x Kamaluddin           6 DOM OBL for pot    primogen  Lasombra:6
1x Azucena            5 DOM OBL pot           Lasombra:6
1x Zbigniew, Hunter of Mekhet   5 OBL aus dom tha         Lasombra:6
1x El Monseñor          4 OBL dom             Lasombra:6
1x Alek König           3 OBL               Hecata:6
1x Nadezhda            3 aus obl             Hecata:6

Library (75 cards)
Master (15; 3 trifle)
1x Burial Site Hunting Ground
1x Direct Intervention
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Elysian Fields
1x Fame
1x Giant's Blood
1x Life in the City
1x Line, The
2x Perfectionist
1x Powerbase: Montreal
2x Villein
1x Visit from the Capuchin

Action (15)
2x Dance of the Dead
7x Govern the Unaligned
1x Revelations
5x Shroud of Decay

Ally (10)
1x Fiorella, Empty One
7x Freakish Conglomeration
2x Vagabond Mystic

Action Modifier (15)
3x Gifts From Hereafter
1x Seduction
2x Shadow Cast
2x Shadow Cloak
4x Stygian Shroud
3x Where the Veil Thins

Action Modifier/Reaction (1)
1x Murmur of the False Will

Combat (5)
4x Pass Through Shadow
1x Target Vitals

Reaction (11)
6x Deflection
1x Delaying Tactics
1x On the Qui Vive
3x Shadow Sentinel

Event (3)
1x FBI Special Affairs Division
2x Unmasking, The

Sponsored by BCP, MotS Imports and Australia’s Online VTES store. Many thanks to the store, Comics Plus (Annerley, Brisbane) for hosting the weekend.

Played on April 25 with 16 Methuselahs, reported by Ben Fox, VEKN National Coordinator of Ireland:

This year Ireland got to hold its very first Dublin Nationals, moving away from the usual Galway location, trying to balance showing visitors the best of Ireland with ease of access to the event, and tap into the largest native player base. 

Tragically in making the event location too convenient we seemed to lose some sense of occasion, and ended up having a lower attendance than previous year from the Dublin players, which thankfully was able to be balanced by the travelling crowd, with heroes from all over Europe and even beyond able to turn up despite flight prices shooting up from Israel's war of aggression in the Middle East. The magical 20 number of players continues to elude us for now, but we can settle for being perhaps the smallest international event worthy of Martin Weinmayer's attention. 

The event on the day got a fantastic variety of decks with no contests through the entire day and most major archetypes except for breed represented. The new venue was also excellent with very easy access by public transport and lots of room to be able to host even a significantly bigger event. 

Heading into the finals we had:
1. Jesper Boje (Nergal Megableed) 2 GW, 8 VP
2. Norbert Flasko (Aaradhya votes) 2 GW, 6 VP
3. John Jalaluddin Jennings as the great Irish hope (Toreador Votes) 2 GW, 6 VP
4. Eduardo Carona (Brujah fightness) 1 GW, 5 VP
5. Captain Tiago Souto (Magaji wall) 1 GW, 4 VP

The qualifications brought us to a fairly familiar finals format, with the traditional 2 Portuguese players, 1 British Prince, a local hero, but this time also Jesper coming over the the finest playmat since the fantastic EC he hosted in 2025, claiming the top seed spot heading into the finals.

Jesper as top seed wasn't aware the old Banu were a heavy intercept deck, placed himself as their predator.

The vote decks spread across from each other for potential deals, and to force the Brujah to make the decision whether to go backwards to avoid getting ousted or forwards to try and get his prey first.

The red cards decks ended up as cross-table allies, hoping to slow down the table to their own pace.

In the finals the two fighty decks were largely successful in slowing the game down to their own pace, with Nergal getting Diablerised from trying to be the accelerant of the table. For a long time the event hung in the balance with just the 1VP going to Norbert's Sabbat Votes deck, but in a final lunge he was able to break through the Banu wall and claim the full GW in the finals. So to quote the winner "life is hard", but it smiles on you once in a while. 

Final result: Norbert took down the finals with 2.5 VPs, with John and Tiago as the survivors.

The tournament winning deck: "Life is Hard" by Norbert Flasko

Crypt (12 cards)
4x Aaradhya, The Callous Tyrant  10 ANI DOM FOR POT PRE  cardinal  Ventrue:6
1x Carolina Vález    9 DOM OBT POT PRE aus  archbishop  Lasombra:5
1x Damian    8 DOM OBL POT for pre  archbishop  Lasombra:6
1x Dark Selina     9 CEL POT PRE dom for  cardinal  Brujah antitribu:5
1x De Sade   9 AUS DOM FOR PRE  archbishop  Ventrue antitribu:5
1x Khin Aye   7 POT PRE dom for  priscus  Ventrue: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 Věnceslava, The Implacable  9 DOM FOR POT PRE cel  archbishop  Brujah:6

Library (85 cards)
Master (17; 7 trifle)
1x Creepshow Casino
2x Dreams of the Sphinx
1x Giant's Blood
1x Information Highway
2x Monastery of Shadows
1x Papillon
2x Ventrue Headquarters
7x Villein

Action (8)
8x Govern the Unaligned

Political Action (17)
1x Anarchist Uprising
1x Ancilla Empowerment
2x Banishment
4x Cold War
6x Kine Resources Contested
2x Neonate Breach
1x Reins of Power

Action Modifier (29)
4x Dominant Personality
4x Iron Glare
4x Perfect Paragon
5x Relentlessness
6x Unthinkable Humiliation
6x Voter Captivation

Combat (6)
6x Majesty

Reaction (8)
8x Deflection

Lots of excitement for next year, with an exclusive artwork by the fan favourite Anastasiia Horbunova coming up, as ever featuring a legendary Irish location, pending the Irish conclave to decide the date and venue.

Thanks to Ben for this report, and thanks to the sponsor Press to Continue, other helpers and the lovely players!