A Day of Prestige, Planning & Playmaking
The Splendor Showdown Tournament at Now Boarding Café turned up the heat as 36 participants gathered to outwit, outmaneuver, and outscore each other in a dazzling display of gem-fueled strategy. Across 23 intense games — rife with tactical pivots, noble tile clinches, and combo plays — the tournament crowned its first Splendor champion in a thrilling celebration of precision planning and competitive camaraderie.
From Qualifiers to Crown
The tournament ended with 18 preliminary games where players vied to earn their place in the semifinals. Some familiar faces and many first-timers put their best foot forward in a game that rewards foresight, efficiency, and patience.
Among standout performers in the qualifiers were:
Venkat Rajath, the overall top scorer, racking up 33 points, 18 development cards, and a noble.
Amit Sowani, who advanced to the finals with 29 points, a stunning 22 development cards, and 2 nobles.
Thrisha M Sannuthi and Anurag Agarwal, who led the tournament in development card collection with a jaw-dropping 23 cards each.
But it wasn’t just about piling up cards. Some players made their points count with ruthless efficiency.
Efficiency Masters: More Points, Fewer Cards
These players stood out for extracting the maximum value from every move, scoring big without relying on volume. These players proved that in Splendor, sometimes less really is more.
Devendra Bendkhale: 30 points from just 11 development cards. That’s 2.73 points per card—a testament to deliberate and effective engine-building.
Srinidhi: 31 points with only 12 cards—2.58 points per card—a model of sleek, streamlined gameplay.
Abhey Arora: 27 points from just 12 cards, showing calm consistency under pressure.
Sowmya: 27 points from 11 cards, making every gem and purchase count.
The Final Four
After three nail-biting semifinals, four brilliant minds emerged for the Grand Finale:
Amit – calm, aggressive, and relentless.
Sowmya – precise, consistent, and efficient.
Adarsh – intuitive and opportunistic.
Abhey – steady and strategic.
Final Showdown Recap
The final game was an edge-of-your-seat experience. While all players brought their A-game, Amit built momentum early with quick access to nobles and high-value cards. Sowmya stayed close throughout, leveraging her hallmark precision. Adarsh kept the board tense with timely steals, and Abhey’s composed playstyle kept him within reach of the crown till the very end.
Final Standings:
1st Place – Amit Sowani: A commanding performance built on card volume, noble clinching, and relentless tempo.
2nd Place – Sowmya: Tactical brilliance and the best points-to-card ratio in the finals.
3rd Place – Adarsh: Always in the mix, with a sharp eye for blocking opponents.
4th Place – Abhey: An understated threat who made every move matter.
Spotlight Moments
Most Development Cards:
Thrisha M Sannuthi & Anurag Agarwal – 23 each
Sahil Kangane – 23
Amit Sowani – 22
Most Points per Card:
Devendra Bendkhale – 2.73
Srinidhi – 2.58
Sowmya – 2.45
Top Qualifier:
Venkat Rajath – 33 points in total with multiple strong games.
Wrapping Up
The Splendor Showdown was more than a tournament — it was a celebration of strategy and shared passion. Whether you won a game or made a friend, everyone walked away richer (in prestige, at least!).
We can't wait to host the next edition. Stay tuned for more board game tournaments, meetups, and showdowns at Now Boarding Café. And until then, keep collecting, keep strategizing, and never underestimate the power of a single gem.
More pictures of the events can be found here - Google Images
Individual score sheets and results can be found here - Splendor Showdown
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