European Diplomacy Championship

The 19th European Diplomacy Championship will take place on November 11th, 12th and 13th 2011 at the Hallmark Hotel, Derby, England - a four star hotel next to Derby's main line railway station. The European Diplomacy Championship will take place in conjunction with MidCon 2011, one of the largest, most distinguished gaming conventions in the UK. The EDC event will have its own room(s) within the Convention but also gains the benefits of co-locating with another gathering of gamers. With the convention being held at a large Hotel, there is easy access to dining and bar facilities on site.

The European Championship of Diplomacy returns to England for the fourth time, but this is the first occasion that such a prestigious international tournament has been hosted at MidCon. However, the Game of Diplomacy is no stranger to MidCon, as this tournament started its life as a DipCon and the UK National Championship has generally been held there. In 2011, the MidCon tournament will once again be the UK NDC and also the last step of the Tour of Britain, so there will be plenty to play for!

For those visitors who have a long journey or just wish to arrive early, meet us on Thurday evening between 18:00 and 00:00 at the Hallmark Hotel for drinks to open the championship. Here you will meet some the players who are coming from across Europe (and maybe even further around the world).

MidCon officially opens on Friday at 11am and from this point on, EuroDipCon attendees will be able to register, pick up name badges and enjoy the start of a large UK Gaming convention. Later on Friday, the European Diplomacy Championship will commence. Registration starts at 16:30 and the first round starts at 18:00.

The first round will finish by 22:00, after which you will have time to catch up with old friends, head out for dinner or to sample the local nightlife or just settle down with other EDC or MidCon attendees to play some of your favourite boardgames, strategy games or card games. MidCon follows the UK convention pattern where attendees bring along a selection of their own games to play. As well as regularly hosting a Diplomacy tournament, there is a thriving 18xx scene here, plus many other well known games make it to the tables. Bring a game with you and you are bound to find others willing to play it. Games will go on in to the evening for as long as you can stay awake!

On Saturday morning, after the chance of a hotel breakfast, we will start the second round. Registration for the second round starts at 9:00 and the round runs between 9:45 and 13:45. After this you get the opportunity to take a lunch break snd review progress at the halfway point of the tournament. Registration for the third round starts at 13:45 and like last year, this is going to be the team round. This will also be the last "qualifying round" of the tournament.

When the Diplomacy games are finished and the knives are safely stowed away once more, we will have a range of options. Once more, you will be free to join the MidCon convention for more boardgames, or alternatively seek out a meal or entertainment in Derby or just relax in the hotel bar.

On Sunday morning, that last day of the tournament will start. At 09:00, when registration for the final round begins, the pressure will start to increase even more. The seven best players from the first three rounds will be gathered together on the top board to fight it out one last time. The winner of that board will take the title of 19th European Champion of Diplomacy. Of course, all other players can also participate in this final round to improve their ranking, which could even enable them to get a place on the podium, to gain a best country award, or simply for the pleasure of playing another good game of Diplomacy.

The Award Ceremony will take place at 14:30, with the intention to have EDC completed by 15:00, to allow those with long distances to travel to head for home at a decent time. MidCon itself continues on until 18:00 on Sunday.

Get ready to join us, and register now to the 19^th European Championship of Diplomacy!

Register to the 19^th European Championship of Diplomacy