Dueling Zone News

DoS: Madness

Tass takes it
by Kalamere
April 24, 2012

Friday night saw this year's Madness Championship match between Tass and Guaire. Guaire, under-rated at a 15 seed, the lowest I can recall for any standing Warlord, though still an unlikely champion. Only 3 of 44 pool entries thought he would make it to the Elite Eight, let alone to the Final; pulling out a win here would have been the Madness Cinderella Story. A cocky, ill-mannered Cinderella, but glass slipper shod none-the-less.

On the other side was old man Tasslehofl. Current Baron of Old Temple and winner of the most recent Warlord Tournament, I'd like to have seen Tass as a #1 seed, but a 2 slot isn't so far off. Tass was the easy favorite considering his recent momentum, though skeptics might point out that winning two tournaments back to back is highly unlikely. Could lightning strike twice for Tass? After all, Gwarrr had been blowing through his competition with ease, while Tass just barely slipped by Sylus in the Final Four.

The ever lovely Sarah Mattews had the call as Tass took the opening lead with a quick step around Guaire's lateral parry in round two and a sweep of his staff to earn the point. Showing early signs of life, the warlord brought the score back to even as he thrust under Tass's high arced attack. Reversed positions in round 5 then put Tass back in the lead and he added to it the following round with an expert low block to halt Guaire's advance.

The thrust / high cut combination was popular this night, the third sighting came in round 7, again in Guaire's favor as he tried to make up the two point difference. Still back one though, with the score at 3-2, this would be the last point for the underdog. Rounds eight and nine belonged to Tass. A thrust, this time over a low attack nicely followed with a high defense to block CinderGwella's high follow and that was all she wrote.

After 9 rounds, Tass took the Championship with a 5-2 final. Taking his second tourney win in a row and crushing the -1.25 line.

Congratulations to the one time King of Commoners. For all you struggling duelists out there, take inspiration from this man. He's a true example of the success one can gain through perseverance.