So Stephen "PsychoSte" Connor and myself got up early on the Friday for a four hour drive from the North-West down to the Lea Valley stadium in London for Yecats Hands Tourney, a warm up for the UK Nationals over the rest of the weekend.

(Matt "ICEBerg" Berg was also down for the parallel ELO event)

The Hands Tourney brought together eight players who had won major events over the last year, including last year's LGT winner.

I qualified in lieu of coming third at the East Anglia GT behind Mickey who had already qualified. I also came third behind Ste at Scotland, and he'd already qualified, so double the charity...

The players included Isaac Bono, Mickey Arnold, Ste Connor, Tom Lenton, Joe McCarthy, Lucas Eden and Jacob Bailey, as well as myself. A very tough field...

YECATS LIVE STREAMS

I elected to run one list for all three games, as below

House Tully Sworn Shields with Robb Stark (C)

House Umber Berserkers with Greatjon Umber

House Umber Berserkers with Winterfell Champion

Stark Bowmen with Crannogman Warden

House Tully Cavaliers with Winterfell Guardian NCU's

Arya Stark & Sansa Stark

Format was standard quarter final, semi-final, final

GAME 1

WINDS OF WINTER

TOM "AllorNothing 117" LENTON

HOUSE MARTELL

My first opponent was Tom Lenton with his nicely painted Martell's. I hadn't met or played Tom, but knew he had done well at Southern tournaments and he is quite active on UK forums.

Sand Skirmishers with Harmen Uller (C) & Edric Dayne

Skyreach Bowmen with High Hermitage Sentinel

Stormcrow Dervishes with Obara Sand

Sand Skirmishers with Areo Hotah NCU's

Doran Martell, Ellaria Sand & Arianne Martell TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT

Terrain: 2 x bogs, Wood, Weirwood

MARTELLS: Areo Sand Skirmishers, Sky Reach Bowmen, Harmens Skirmishers,

Stormcrow Dervishes

STARKS: Greatjon Berserkers, Bowmen, Robb's Tully Shields, Berserkers,

Tully Cavaliers

I had chosen sides, so Tom elected to go first. With a lot of firepower, I was going to have to rush and hut hard...

ROUND 1

Doran took the Water Garden so I marched up my Bowmen. Arianne took the letters before I had Arya take Horses and advance my Cavaliers up

The Martells hung back with my Bowmen covering the centre and left side...

Robb marched up so I had a good centre presence as Tom held well back

I used an Arya token to put pressure on straight away with the Winterfell Guardians Berserkers moving up

I charged home with the Tully Cavaliers despite being hit with Rising Temperatures but didnt have Winter is Coming so Tom played Set for Charge, allowing an attack against me first, before the Dervishes retreated away

ROUND 2

I played the Mission Score 2 pts for controlling the centre, Tom played Condition token one I think

Activating first, I had Arya take the Swords and played Assault order, removing Rising Temperatures

I then targeted the Tully Cavaliers, removing Rising Temperatures and charging the Dervishes

And again, Set for Charge denied me a chance to run the Martells through with my lances...

I charged in with the Berserkers into Harmen's unit

But they retreated out using the Horses shooting after they did so

I healed up with Sansa on the bags

But my right hook had been repelled and my forces were diminished

Centrally and left I was still ok but needed to keep the pressure on.

So before Harmen activated and shot down my Berserkers, I sued an Arya token to move the Greatjon up around the bog on the left... my Berserkers on the right died

But the Greatjon and his men, after being shot down a bit by the Skyreach bowmen, charged in and brutalised Areo Hotah's unit, despite the bog. A failed morale check helped...

The Dervishes charged my Cavaliers who played Sudden retreat after the attack

END OF ROUND 2

HOUSE STARK 2 VPs (2 Mission pts)

HOUSE MARTELL 1 VP (1 unit)

ROUND 3

I played Mission score 2 VP's if in enemy deployment, Tom played enemy unit kills a friend gets 2 VP's added to it.

But first activation was Doran on Water gardens healing bit on Areo's unit, I shot with my bowmen killing a few of Areo's unit. Tom took the Letters, I attacked with Arya on swords

But failed to kill the unit...

Tom activated the Dervishes, declaring a 3+ charge...

In a pivotal roll, he threw a two, falling just short of the lance cavalry

The Greatjon actvivated and despite rising Temperatures finally struck down Areo Hotah, surging forth up but not quite into the enemy deployment (I had hoped to wipe the unit out earlier)

The Tullys also hit home into the Dervishes

All nine attacks hit

But Obara Sand held the line alone..

Harmen Uller outflanked the Sworn Shields, who also failed a panic check to lose six men

Robb then pivoted, and marched over next to Greatjon to heap pressure on the Skyreach bowmen

END OF ROUND 3

HOUSE STARK 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 Mission)

HOUSE MARTELL 1 VP (1 unit)

ROUND 4

Tom played score a point and take first turn, I played take tactics zone before opponent.

Tom had Arianne take the Swords, influencing my the Greatjon and shooting the unit down, killing the unit and scoring 3 points due to the 2 VP's on it for killing Areo. I took the bags and used assault orders to kill Obara Sand.

Then we realised that Arianne cannot turn off innate abilities, which To the Last is. So Greatjon reappeared. A bit messy, but correct...

Tom took the Horsess and moved up into Robbs flank, shooting them down.

I charged them in the rear, again scoring all nine hits

Two were saved sadly and the panic check passed

I used Hit and Run to move back

Harmen moved out of my bowmen's arc

The Greatjon charged home alone, butchering the Bowmen that had shot down his men

with half the remainder panicking and running away

ROUND 5

Harmen charged the Bowmen, who retreated away with Sudden Retreat. All sorts of cards were played to kill Harmen Uller when the Tullys charged his flank, while Greatjon easily despatched the three remaining Skyreach bowmen

BOARD END OF ROUND 5 (and GAME)

HOUSE STARK 7 VP's (4 units, 3 Mission)

HOSUE MARTELL 4 VP's (2 Units, 2 Mission) WIPED OUT

Cracking game and the Tully Cavalry nearly came a cropper on the right, having to retreat and regroup. Had that charge hit home from the Dervishes, outcome could well have been different, it was certainly closer than the final result would have you believe. I didn't realise the mission card 2VP's for killing a friend stayed on (despite it saying so) and To the Last saved me too. Really good game to start the weekend, Tom was a cool opponent. And I was gonna be in the top 4...

Meanwhile, Ste went out having faced off against Mickey, losing 9-5

GAME 2

ISSAC "Cajo_C" Borno

HOUSE LANNISTER

A DANCE WITH DRAGONS

Isaac and I have never played, nor really chatted much as he is normally a top end player and I generally am not. Having said that, I did have the pleasure of watching his performances at the LGT last year (courtesy of Yecats: FINAL LAST YEAR) As well as how ruthlessly efficient he plays, he also plays like a gentleman advising opponents and not being overly fussy...

Since last year's London Grand Tournament, the updates have changed make up slightly but Isaac still took the double crossbows that served him well last year.

Lannister Crossbowmen with Tyrion Lannister (C)

  Lannister Crossbowmen with Preston Greenfield 

  Knights of Casterly Rock with Gregor Clegane - Mounted Behemoth

  House Clegane Brigands

NCU's

Tywin Lannister, Petyr Baelish & Lord Varys

TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT

TERRAIN: Bog, Corpse Pile, Palisade, Weirwood tree

LANNISTERS: Crossbows, Brigands, Tyrion Crossbows,

Mountain's Knights

STARKS: Cavaliers, Bowmen, Robb's Sworn Shields,

GJ Berserkers, Berserkers

So we made up with never having really chatted by having a right good natter and I forgot to take early move and tactics board pics...

ROUND 1

Isaac took the Horses with Barristan and moved up Tyrion's Crossbows in the centre. I marched up my own bowmen, before Isaac took the crowns to maneuver Preston's Crossbows up, staying out of my Overwatch trigger

I took the swords getting a few shots in at Tyrion, taking some hits from a Varys token

And then the crossbows activated. I dont know why this came as a surprise, but it hurt...

I was shot down before the end of the round, as my Tully cavalry moved up on the left, with the Brigands looking to face them down

I'd moved up my right Berserkers awaiting Ser Gregor and his Knights

But they held back, so I marched up in the centre

END OF ROUND 1

HOUSE LANNISTER 1 VP (1 unit)

HOUSE STARK 0 VP's

ROUND 2

I activated the Tullys, moving into the flank of the crossbows and claiming the objective before charging home with Devastating Impact and Northern Ferocity. Two crossbowmen survived and retreated away off of the Horses.

Baelish had once per gamed the bags

I had got shot up by Tyrion after using an Arya token, before charging into the Knights, but retreated away with Hit and Run.

Isaac healed the Knights back to full from the bags while I took the Letters and used once per game to draw back devastating impact

I failed to kill Preston and his remaining crossbow from the Crowns after losing a rank of Sworn Shields to shooting from the Swords.

The Brigands faced down the Tully's but didn't commit as yet

And when Tyrion shot off the swords, they'd shifted up for rerolls. So they declin da shot, dropping back to deny my Guardians Umbers a legal charge.

I therefore activated them and took the right objective.

I activated Robb, moving back, then tactically repositioning further away. Isaac then used Tywin to make me panicked and vulnerable an lose all abilities, with 4 hits on the Greatjons unit who lost one man

With the Brigands declaring a charge, I played Superior Positioning but counterplot cancelled it

With no Shieldwall order available, and a Vulnerable token, I lost four men

And rolled snake eyes for the panic. With two wounds, and a further +2 from the Brigands brutal armaments, my Tully Sworn Shields were gone...

A pretty perfect combination of events for the Isaac and House Lannister

The Mountain and his Knights then flanked the Greatjon

Who survived... barely!!!

Board End of Round 2

END OF ROUND 2

HOUSE LANNISTER 3 VP's (2 unit, 1 objective)

HOUSE STARK 2 VP's (1 objective)

ROUND 3

Things did not look good for House Stark

The Greatjon was forced to expend a To the Last as the Mountain attacked off of the Swords. But the following panic was passed.

So I attacked off of the Bags using assault orders, ineffectually but I played Hit and Run and withdrew, hoping the Knights would have to chase me down. Isaac took the letters, so I took the Crown to panic attack Preston's Crossbows.

Alas, Issac played Intercept Orders, so I targeted the Brigands, who dropped the objective. I placed it behind them, thinking it may bring them in range of the Tully Cavaliers if they picked it up

Then the Mountain assaulted my other Umbers dropping eight. When i looked to hit back, Subjugation of power was played.

And I lost two men and my Critical blow because I rolled Snake Eyes again. For Umbers. On one rank. And on a Weirwood...

The tactics board filled out with Varys on the Horses

which Issac used to bring the Brigands into strike range and finish off my Umbers on the right

BOARD END OF ROUND 3

The Greatjon was looking vulnerable but I was first and Preston was in range

END OF ROUND 3

HOUSE LANNISTER 5 VP's (3 units, 2 objectives)

HOUSE STARK 3 VP's (3 objectives)

ROUND 4

I activated the Greatjon and charged home, wiping out the crossbows

The rest of the turn was moving away as fast as possible from the Mountain and Tyrion who were closing in on the Greatjon. And my Tullys finally made it off the bog

END OF ROUND 4

HOUSE LANNISTER 6 VP's (3 units, 3 objectives)

HOUSE STARK 5 VP's (1 unit, 4 objectives)

ROUND's 5 & 6

Alas, with such a frenetic opening few rounds the end came quickly. First activation round 5 saw Tyrion off the swords shift into shooting range and cut down the Greatjon and we activated out.

BOARD END OF GAME

END OF GAME

HOUSE LANNISTER 9 VP's (4 units, 5 objectives)

HOUSE STARK 7 VP's (1 unit, 6 objectives)

The game wasn't really as close as the score suggests with Isaac always in control and me reacting to it. I really don't know what I was thinking Round 1!!! Well I do, I thought my Overwatch would control centre left the with a march but Isaac simply moved to just out of range and then shifted and shot me down. Definitely a lack of foresight on my part. And losing Robb's unit turn 2, have to say perfect use of Tywin, cards and a unit to wipe me out. Isaac did surprise me a few times, in not chasing down and killing Greatjon earlier and abandoning the centre objective to secure the right but in the end, hardly mattered as he easily won the game, despite the score not really reflecting it. Pleasure to play against such a consummate player and a really good lesson of unit, card and board interplay.

GAME 3

JOE "JoeMc" McCarthy

HOUSE TARGARYEN

A GAME OF THRONES

I hadn't met Joe before, believe he won the Rise of the Salt Throne Event and is pretty active in the South. We were effectively playing for third an fourth spot.

Joe was running a highly mobile double dragon list with a pair of missile units and 3 NCU's

Golden Company Crossbowmen with Skahaz Mo Kandaq (C) & Mirri

Rhaegal

Drogon

Dothraki Outriders with Rakharo

NCU's

Daenerys Unburnt, Quaithe & Barristan Selmy

TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT

TERRAIN: Corpse pile, Weirwood, Bog, Weirwood

TARGARYENS: Rhaegal, Drogon, Outriders, GC Crossbowmen

STARKS: Berserkers, Bowmen, Cavaliers, Robbs Sworn Shields, GreatJon's Berserkers

ROUND 1

Joe had chosen table edges, so I elected to let Joe go first, who had Barristan take the Letters. I had Arya take Horses to move my Bowmen up for Overwatch threat, Joe took bags to keep weakened on my Cavaliers and I took the Swords to deny them to Joe.

I'd taken Swrods after Joe had marched his Crossbowmen right up. I brought my Berserkers up to look after the bowmen, as Rhaegal flew out further to my left.

Drogon activated to move up, before charging after I played Superior positioning, which resulted in a disorderly charge and a vulnerable token. It would have been disorderly anyway with the corpse pile, but I wanted the vulnerable

And Joe rolled the magic double one...

Of course, he did follow that up with a Daenerys attack that saw me lose eight Umbers. I did get an Overwatch shot and drop an Outrider, as Robb and the GJ marched up in the centre and right. My Tully's failed in a long bomb charge at Drogon

ROUND 2

I charged into Drogons flank, doing three wounds due to the corpse pile and weakened.

But Joe's dice helped me again, with a critical fail causing 3 wounds on a double 1 roll

Joe then hit me in the rear with his Outriders Sentinel Order and dropped two Cavaliers

I spent an Arya token start of Joe's turn and retreated my Umbers out

Joe used Swords for Drogon but he narrowly failed to kill the Cavaliers. I used assault orders from the Horses and managed to take Drogon's last two wounds. The Outriders managed the single wound on the Cavaliers, killing them then surging forth away from my units.

On centre and right, Robb had tactical repositioned up, and then swift repositioned to secure centre wile an Arya token allowed Great Jon to close on the activated and retreated GC Crossbowmen

Arya had healed up my left side Umbers and Daenerys panic checked the Greatjon from the Crowns...

And I failed for two wounds...

On the left, after Rhaegal went for a 5+ charge at teh GJ's Berserkers, my Winterfell Guardian charged in with a 5+ charge agaisnt the Outriders, rolling a stonking 12 hits.

With nine wounds left I was optimistic.

But they managed to pass five armour rolls leaving the Bloodrider on two wounds...

BOARD END OF ROUND 2

A bloody affair to be sure

ROUND 3

Plenty for Joe to think about given the state of play. The Greatjon's To The Last meant a dragon flank charge wasn't really a good idea

So Joe had the Outriders attack off of the swords, killing one Umber, who then activated and attacked back, killing the unit

Joe took the bags and healed up the Shavepate's Golden Company Crossbowmen. I then activated the Greatjon to attack, getting seven hits...

Six saves were failed, enough to take the unit off of the board and allowing a surge forth towards the far right objective

Rhaegal did drop my Umbers to two men but I used Sudden Retreat to drop back out of melee and claim the objective on the far left

BOARD END OF ROUND 3

END OF ROUND 3

HOUSE STARK 7 VP's (3 units, 4 objectives)

HOUSE TARGARYEN 1 VP (1 unit)

ROUND 4

I healed the Umbers, but they died when Rhaegal activated and charged them, surging forth just out of Bowmen Overwatch range. I took Horses to deny any other moves and sat on three objectives after Greatjon took the far right side.

BOARD END OF ROUND 4 (and Game)

HOUSE STARK 10 VP's (3 Units, 7 objectives)

HOUSE TARGARYEN 2 VP's (2 units)

No doubt in my mind but that double 1 on the charge from Drogon turn 1 cost Joe the game. Had those umbers been destroyed, Joe would have had Drogon in the flank of my archers. And failing a panic with the Dragon too, just some real bad luck on Joe's part. Losing my Tully's for it was a fair swap, especially when my Umbers hit home and cut down the cavalry and Golden Company to single model and rank respectively. I had some helpful cards and after Turn 2 just kept the momentum going so Joe was always on the back foot. Cracking game, but really decided by bad luck on the dice for Joe.

The Stats below show how things would be on Swiss system. But actually, Isaac shot down Mickey's Free Folk in the final, winning the event with Mickey runner-up and I took third place. Ste placed fifth. A good little warm up for the main event.

FULL EVENT STATS

Meanwhile, at the ELO event...

ELO WINNER - MATT BERG