Rocky Xu, a 19-year-old from Peachtree City, outmaneuvered nearly 100 other contestants to win the $100 first-place cash prize in the eighth annual Peachtree City Monopoly Tournament April 16 at Partners II Pizza.
Second place went to Carol Allessio of Peachtree City, winning $50 cash. Third and fourth places went to James Crowe of Locust Grove and Carter Lau of Peachtree City, both winning $25 each. This is the first time Peachtree City was represented by three contestants at the final table.
There was more than $1,900 in cash and prizes given away at this year’s tournament. There was no entry fee in this official Hasbro tournament, the largest in the southeastern United States. The generosity of local Peachtree City businesses like Partners II Pizza provided most the prizes.
Thirty-two tables of Monopoly were in action for each of the first two qualifying rounds. The format of the tournament was such that 32 winners from both qualifying rounds advanced to the quarter final round of 64 players on 16 tables. This produced a tournament matrix akin to the NCAA basketball tournament of 64 teams. The 16 quarterfinal tables each had four players trying to win their way to the semifinals which then consisted of 16 players on 4 tables. The semifinals resulted in the four finalist.
This year the tournament hosted players from New York, North Carolina, Florida and Tennessee as well as 25 different cities across Georgia. The average age of contestants was 32 years old. Some were serious enthusiast while most come out for just plain fun, socializing and a chance to win one of the 24 door prizes valued at more than $1,100 in the first round.
Each round lasted 75 minutes with the winner having the most assets at the end time. Aside from having luck with dice rolls the next most important part of the game came with the strategy of making trades. The championship table was no exception.
Carol Allessio had the only monopoly after all properties were sold but it was the Mediterranean and Baltic group. The least expensive group but was enough to put her into the lead since the other players did not have monopolies. Rocky Xu had been trying to make a trade for most the game arguing that Carol was going to win if others didn’t make a trade with him.
With about 20 minutes to go in the game, James Crowe finally made a trade with Rocky he thought gave him the best chance to overtake Carol. The next few rolls of the dice proved to be lucky for Rocky as opponents quickly landed on monopolies he had just traded for and built houses on. It was one of the most exciting finishes in the tournament’s history.
Gift certificates given away during the first round of play started at $179 from The Peachtree City Tennis Center. Additional prizes came from Speed Zone, Urban Jungle, World Gym, Fitness 54, Fresh Market, The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Peachtree City, Brixx Pizza, Georgia Shrimp, La Hacienda #6, Borgo Italia, Due South (last year’s host), Amazing Escape Room and Palmers restaurant.
Next year’s tournament will be Saturday, April 22, at Los Mariachis restaurant near MacDuff Parkway and Hwy. 54 in Peachtree City. Those interested in playing next year should send an email now to [email protected] to get an automatic invitation a few months before the tournament.
