Windy City Weasels

Spring Break is officially over for the North American Diplomacy Federation's Grand Prix. The 2010 circuit opened nine weeks ago at TempleCon in Providence, R.I., where 2009 champion Adam Sigal picked up where he left off by claiming the seven-board purse.

The competition will renew this weekend with Chicago's minor tournament, the CODCon Open, held in the western suburb of Glen Ellyn. The Weasels are expecting a total of eight boards for their fourth annual Open. If their numbers hold up, then come Sunday evening, someone other than Sigal will lead the Grand Prix for the first time in more than 15 months. You can find more information about the CODCon Open at the Weasels' website, windycityweasels.org.

The CODCon champion's Grand Prix lead is likely to be short-lived, however. DipCon, the North American Diplomacy Championship, is next weekend in San Francisco. The Bay Area Diplomacy Association will host the circuit's signature event at its seventh annual BADASS Whipping. There is still time to participate in a hobby tradition that dates more than 40 years. You can find more information at the BADAss website, bayareadiplomacy.org, or email tournament director Adam Silverman directly at adam.silverman [at] gmail [dot] com.

After DipCon, the Grand Prix pursuers will rest and regroup before the venerable DixieCon, which will be held over Memorial Day Weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. In each of the past four years, the road to the Grand Prix championship plowed right through DixieCon. If you're serious about the Grand Prix, then ignore that fact at your own peril. More information is available at dixiecon.com.

Hope to see you at an event soon!