CNSC!
Wow, I'm excited for it and I'm not even going!
I really think Jesse should've gone but it'll be really neat to watch. So many people I want to cheer on and hope they do well. Primary among them are Evan B (I think we spoke all of once, and you and Rob were talking more than anything), Craig Rowland (Jesse is a great judge of character IMO), John Stardom (always been a pleasure to know you, and it was great to see Kurt in NO at that time as well), and everyone going from Vancouver (hey, I am entitled to my local biases).
Now, let's see. What I want to happen ideally varies quite a bit from what I think will happen, but I guess it's an open Q that I want to leave to everyone:
What I think will happen: Robin's been playing at such a high level for such a long time, and really is one of the most qualified players to win a major that hasn't managed to yet (this basically is NSC, CNSC, WSC, or top 5 at NSC or WSC). I can see her walking away with the title, but there are some perennially hard players that I've oddly enough never had to play. Dave Boys, Joel Wapnick, Adam Logan, Evan, Mark S, and Zev are definite candidates for the top rung(s) as well. From Vancouver, I think most eyes will be on Dean and Dielle (rightfully so), but one person who never toots his own horn and who has impressed me as much as those two is Chris Williams. If anything, he could really be this year's version of what I term a 'surprise finalist' - the person who gets to the finals that no one expects, and usually doesn't win but never to count them out (myself, Geoff T [sorry! but you gotta admit, it wasn't exactly foreseen], Tony Leah, and to an extent even Dean fit in those molds for me). There's been quite a number of them around recently as compared to before... I wonder why?
What I want to happen: My dream final table has Chris versus Jill Turney. For those who've met these two, 'nuff said. Of the more likely outcomes, I think I'd like to see Dielle v Chris or Evan v Chris.
Seven people are going from Vancouver this time: Dean, Dielle, Chris, Marilyn Murray, Jill, Lam Tang, and Evan Kramer. Funny enough, we could've sent 9 people if Kevin Lee and myself had went, 10 from BC. This is a definite step up from the last CNSC when Dean was the only participant from our coastal province. So, go BC!
So, what are other people's predictions?
Anyway, je te souhaite: bon chance a toi!
I really think Jesse should've gone but it'll be really neat to watch. So many people I want to cheer on and hope they do well. Primary among them are Evan B (I think we spoke all of once, and you and Rob were talking more than anything), Craig Rowland (Jesse is a great judge of character IMO), John Stardom (always been a pleasure to know you, and it was great to see Kurt in NO at that time as well), and everyone going from Vancouver (hey, I am entitled to my local biases).
Now, let's see. What I want to happen ideally varies quite a bit from what I think will happen, but I guess it's an open Q that I want to leave to everyone:
What I think will happen: Robin's been playing at such a high level for such a long time, and really is one of the most qualified players to win a major that hasn't managed to yet (this basically is NSC, CNSC, WSC, or top 5 at NSC or WSC). I can see her walking away with the title, but there are some perennially hard players that I've oddly enough never had to play. Dave Boys, Joel Wapnick, Adam Logan, Evan, Mark S, and Zev are definite candidates for the top rung(s) as well. From Vancouver, I think most eyes will be on Dean and Dielle (rightfully so), but one person who never toots his own horn and who has impressed me as much as those two is Chris Williams. If anything, he could really be this year's version of what I term a 'surprise finalist' - the person who gets to the finals that no one expects, and usually doesn't win but never to count them out (myself, Geoff T [sorry! but you gotta admit, it wasn't exactly foreseen], Tony Leah, and to an extent even Dean fit in those molds for me). There's been quite a number of them around recently as compared to before... I wonder why?
What I want to happen: My dream final table has Chris versus Jill Turney. For those who've met these two, 'nuff said. Of the more likely outcomes, I think I'd like to see Dielle v Chris or Evan v Chris.
Seven people are going from Vancouver this time: Dean, Dielle, Chris, Marilyn Murray, Jill, Lam Tang, and Evan Kramer. Funny enough, we could've sent 9 people if Kevin Lee and myself had went, 10 from BC. This is a definite step up from the last CNSC when Dean was the only participant from our coastal province. So, go BC!
So, what are other people's predictions?
Anyway, je te souhaite: bon chance a toi!