The call went out to pilots across the galaxy: climb into your cockpit, ready your hyperdrive, and make the jump to an X-Wing™ event like no other!

From April 30th through May 2nd, Warsaw, Poland played host to one of the eight events in the X-Wing System Open Series. Travel, hotel accommodations, and entrance to the Coruscant™ Invitational at Star Wars™ Celebration 2016 in London awaited the player who claimed the title of Endor™ Open Champion. A weekend of elite competition, meeting new players, and celebrating the awesome game of X-Wing would be the consolation prize for all other entrants.

Two preliminary days saw a total of 180 players enroll. Each pilot was on a mission to obtain at least 18 tournament points and advance to the final day. Six rounds of dogfights awaited every pilot. S-foils were locked in attack position, turrets and cannons unleashed barrages of laser fire, and many ships fell victim to expert maneuvers. Out of the field of pilots, many skilled squad commanders rose to the challenge and emerged unscathed from battle.

Our long-range scanners were able to capture an interesting piece of information about the ships competitors chose to deploy for the Endor Open: 22 Lambda-class Shuttles were sighted above Endor. Most had older clearance codes, but they all checked out.

In addition to the main event, there were just as many players enrolled in the two Hangar Bay side events as the main event! In this brand-new format, each player brings two squads and reveals them to their opponent at the start of each round. Players evaluate their opponent’s squads and then secretly choose which of their own squads to fly for the round. The Rival Rule requires that the two squads each player brings must belong to different factions, ensuring some tough choices for our pilots.

Once the dust settled on the Endor Open’s two preliminary days, 55 players had earned at least 18 tournament points, ensuring their return on the final day to play an additional three rounds against other battle-tested pilots. After three tense rounds, the top eight competitors who proved their skill and daring advanced to single-elimination rounds.

The probability of successfully winning the Endor Open was approximately 180 to 1. But don’t tell these eight players the odds. One of them was a mere three victories away from claiming the title of Open Champion and joining Ryan Fleming at the Coruscant Invitational.

When the final torpedo had been launched, only one pilot remained: Piotr Kuc, our Endor Open Champion! We asked Piotr about how he had taken the steps in order to achieve victory at the event.

Why did you choose the squad you played at the Endor Open?

Piotr: “Two weeks before the Endor Open, I was thinking about playing three Imperial Aces. I strongly enjoy the speed and maneuverability of TIE Interceptors and TIE Fighters. Unfortunately, they are very fragile, especially when blocked, and one mistake might be fatal.”

What match-up did you fear most coming into the event?

Piotr: “I was afraid of playing against squads with huge firepower—Triple Jumpmaster 5000™ lists and Crackshot Swarms. That was another reason why I decided to choose ships with more vitality.”

What was your most memorable match during the rounds before single-elimination?

Piotr: “I especially remember my 9th round game. I was playing against a Crackshot Swarm and a very experienced player. My opponent had bad luck at the beginning of combat and lost two important ships, each receiving a Direct Hit (Howlrunner and “Scourge”). Despite that fact, he showed superb skills, and his crippled Swarm successively destroyed three of my ships (“Wampa”, “Omega Leader”, and Omicron Group Pilot), losing only one TIE Fighter. At this point in time, I was losing the game, and due to my low MoV, I would not make it to the Top 8.

My remaining ship (The Inquisitor) was moving last—after Mauler Mithel and two Black Squadron Pilots—and my opponent successfully managed to block me or evade my shots. Three minutes before the end of round, I finally killed Mauler Mithel and won the game 70-69.”

What ships are you hoping will win for each faction’s online voting, because you will have to fly them at the Coruscant Invitational?

Piotr: “I expect that the HWK-290, TIE Punisher, and StarViper will win the voting. Those ships are rarely seen during tournaments, and I think that we all would like to see them more often.”

Any advice for aspiring players who will want to fly your squad at their local events and maybe win some prizes from the X-Wing Spring 2016 Tournament Kit?

Piotr: “Actually I have two hints for aspiring players. Place your asteroids carefully. Some of my games, especially against large ships such as Aggressors, were won mainly due to conveniently placed obstacles. Furthermore, you must learn to be patient. If you attack too quickly, your opponent will counter you with his full force. Wait until he breaks his formation or needs to avoid an obstacle.”

Piotr Kuc’s Winning Squad List

We will see how Piotr fares in July at the Coruscant Invitational during Star Wars Celebration 2016. The next competitor to join that field of eight will be determined at the Yavin™ Open in Birmingham, England, beginning June 4th.

If you are unable to attend a System Open, you can still have a voice in the Coruscant Invitational! Vote to select the ship from each faction that those eight elite players will have to incorporate into their faction squads. Each round of voting also gives you the opportunity to be chosen to receive an exclusive X-Wing System Open Series prize!

Keep your eyes on the X-Wing System Open site, as we’ll continue posting updates on each System Open as they happen and the Coruscant Invitational draws closer.