Fun is the name of the game at the 2002 Risk Tournament. Keith, the GM, enthusiastically greets the crowd and encourages a good time be had by all the players. Keith wears his well-known purple hat and the new addition of a Maryland tie tied around the hat.

Attendance is up over 50% as Risk hits a new record of forty-five players. We see the return of Steve Dickson, the 2001 WBC Risk champion and Craig Melton, the 2000 WBC Risk Champion. Finalists from previous years, Tom Agustino, Matt Evinger, Alan Hayes, Tito Lightburn, Bill O?Neal, and Bill Place, return for another shot at the wood. The first heat sees five boards with six players each and one with five players for a total of thirty-five. The second heat sees two boards with six players and four boards with five players for a total of thirty-two. Due to the large turnout only players with at least one first place win and that play both rounds have a chance of advancing to the final. Turn order options in the final were seeded according to tournament advancements. Finalists were also given color choices and a selection of a stack of Risk cards for initial troop placement according to tournament seeding.

The final consists of Scott Fenn with two first place wins in the preliminary heats. Tom Stokes advances with a first and second place showing. Robert Paul, James Long and Phil Rennart all advance with a first and third place showing. Bill Place is the only returning previous finalist to advance in this years? final with a first and fourth place showing.

Scott starts the final off by sweeping through Africa, capturing the continent and guarding with about four armies on the borders. James sweeps through South America and guards the borders with five armies. Thomas has a large force of all his armies in China and just takes one territory for his Risk Card. Phil has one large force in Central America and takes one territory. Robert lays claim to Australia and guards the border with twelve units. Bill has one large contingent of troops in Alaska and takes one space. Players stress friendly moves and attacks so as not to make enemies too quickly.

In the second round all players take one territory and those with continents reinforce their borders. In round three, James negotiates peace with Phil along the Central America and Venezuelan borders of North and South America. This negation gives Phil the freedom to sweep through North America and holds the borders of Alaska with six, Greenland with two and Central America with two Armies. Thomas negotiates peace with Bill, who now has his one large force of twelve in Yakutz. Bill attacks Robert in Irtursk, rolling poorly and loses extra forces.

In round four, James renegotiates his peace treaty with Phil saying Phil has to commit move forces to defend Central America in order for him to hold up his end of the peace treaty. Robert turns in the first set of Risk cards of four armies and places them with his other troops in Siam giving him twenty-two armies. Robert decides to attack Thomas in China in an attempt to remove him from the game. Robert is successful and takes Thomas? four Risk cards for a total of five cards. Bill turns in the second set of Risk cards so he is not a target for the other players and he receives six armies. Bill moves what forces he has left to Siberia to try to stay out of everyone?s way.

In round five: Scott turns in for eight armies and reinforces the Middle East and Southern Europe. James turns in his Risk cards for ten armies and reinforces Great Britain. James with a large force in Great Britain and in Venezuela decides to ignore Phil who is quietly amassing large forces in North America by getting five extra armies per turn. Phil just takes one territory for a Risk card. Robert turns in a set of Risk cards for twelve armies and decides to try and remove Bill from the game. Robert rolls below average and Bill rolls incredibly well fending off Robert?s attack, but leaving Bill with