Heading to the Catan World Championship: My Four-Years Journey, Unfiltered
An Honest Analysis of My Journey to the Tournament that Marks the End of a Four-Year Intense Cycle
It’s the final countdown…
In a few days, I will be in Stuttgart, Germany, to compete in the largest Catan tournament in existence: the World Championship.
In this text, my goal is to offer an honest reflection on my competitive journey over the past four years. Unlike my previous text, which focused more on strategic aspects of the game, this one is meant to be introspective.
I feel the need to put some things in order, without filters. These writings are here to document and close an important chapter of my life. Still, I hope you, the reader, can find something valuable for your own Catan journey — whether through statistical insights or by learning what to emulate and what to avoid from my actions.
Over the past four years, I have, quite possibly, been the player in the world who has probably participated in the most number of high-level Catan tournaments and games. Competing at a high level in a daily basis was a demanding proces. At the same time, it was also a period of significant growth.
This is the end of a chapter. But it is not the end of the story.
And every story has a beginning…
The Origins: From Average Player to Competitive
My journey has been built more on learning than innate talent. It was daily practice that pushed me forward.
I started playing Catan at the end of 2020. However, it was on March 29, 2021, that my competitive life truly began when I joined the largest Catan server on Discord.
At the time, the Catan Championship was already big, but it was about to begin its monthly league format. And I dove into the idea headfirst, not even knowing what the acronym OWS stood for.
Playing between 40 and 70 games per month in the first ten months, I learned from some of the best players of the time, while making many basic mistakes along the way. With some hesitation and fear of communicating in English on Voice Chat, I avoided it whenever possible. Despite reaching three finals in the first six seasons of Division One, I knew there was much more to achieve and that those results weren't entirely deserved. It was more luck, more work of variance, than my own skills.
End of 2021: Only the 15th best WinRate in Division 1 (total number of players with 100 or more games: 38). Not so good consistency numbersThe turning point came in 2022 when I began to truly embrace the social aspect of the game and lose my fear of Voice Chat. More communicative, I started to impose what became my trademark: table balancing.
With confidence, the results began to show, and consistency started to emerge. But, along with that, came the problems that come with excessive confidence...
The Stormy Times: Disputes and Persecution
Being competitive is a double-edged sword: while the pursuit of excellence can lead us to great achievements, it can also push us across dangerous boundaries where our darker side can emerge.
As confidence and results began to appear, it became difficult to separate healthy arrogance from toxic arrogance. And, at times, I was toxic.
In trying to impose my style of balance and argumentation, I was aggressive, sometimes passively, sometimes not. I said things that, over time, I’ve realized should never have been said. Especially (but not exclusively) towards two players, and for that, I extend my sincere apology once again. As I said, this text is an honest reflection, and why not, an attempt at reconciliation?
I must say that, despite everything, I was also the target of disproportionate persecution. I don't want to victimize myself, but I feel the need to clarify situations that marked my journey — because this text is also about bringing justice to the truth.
I believe that my argumentative nature, combined with having grown up in a generation of creative players like Rayman, Jadd, and Md7, and continuing to compete and follow the rise of new generations, created a clash of perceptions about the game.
Around the end of 2022 and early 2023, already established as a player, my argumentation was still seen as deceiving by the new generations — who, ironically, today adopt the same posture, perhaps even more intensely, in what they pejoratively call whining.
The persecution truly began after a disagreement about my style of communication in a specific game during that time, leading to a negative reaction from one competitor and his friend. This small group, quickly supported by other friends, began to criticize me constantly, creating a hostile environment and fueling a subtle persecution. The situation worsened when some moderation members, instead of helping to mediate the situation, aligned themselves with this group, making the competition increasingly toxic.
Tension rose when I defended a player who was also being unjustly criticized. From there, the attacks — both within the game and personal — intensified, turning the community into a true battlefield. At several points, I found myself isolated and constantly devalued.
I've always had strong opinions and expressed them outside of the game as well, advocating for a style of Catan based on intelligent discussions and creative agreements (and I continue to advocate because I care about the scene). But, by doing so in a forceful way, I began to receive unfounded criticism — as if my stance was motivated by a moral issue. The feeling was that any word I spoke was either distorted or ridiculed.
But undeniably, all of this also made me stronger. To continue winning, I had to overcome yet another adversity: the ethos of the community.
Per aspera ad astra: Through hardships, to the stars. The times of glory.
The Latin phrase “Per aspera ad astra” is often associated with a derivation from the work of playwright Seneca, in “Hercules Furens.” The myth of Hercules, in all its versions, contrasts the adversities (aspera) of the journey to achieve glory (astra).
When I became the national champion in 2023, I was able to experience the feeling of redemption. And, one year later, with the back-to-back title, it was the ultimate validation. Playing Catan in person was a (re)discovery. Realizing how solid my fundamentals were—a forced adaptation, as my social game had been compromised in the online environment—was invigorating. Being able to connect that with Table Presence skills in my own language made all the difference in achieving those victories.
I am incredibly grateful for the titles, but as I often repeat, what I value most is the consistency of my “career” (if we can label it that way), as it is what truly defines me as a player.
As this marks the end of a cycle, I will record here my partial and total stats in Division 1—still the only place where there is relevant data in the context of competitive Catan.
2022 Division 1 Stats. Table in the left refers to 6 first months; Table in the right refers to last 6 months. Clear evolution: from 9th (in a total of 43 players) to 2nd (in a total of 42 players) *with 100 or more games
2023 Division 1 Stats. Table in the left refers to 6 first months; Table in the right refers to last 6 months. I am 14th of 45 in 6 first months and 1st of 27 in 6 last months (*adjusted to 75> games for comparison, as I didn’t play 100 at least)
2024 Division 1 Stats. Table refers to first six months, where I am ranked 2nd in 30 players with 100 or more games. Did not include Table from the last six months, when I won 14 out of 36 games (see note above)
My Division 1 Data Compilation for the record.The Online Scene: The Time of Controversies. What Went Wrong?
It was also in 2024, during my final season, that I finally won the D1 title. Unlike in other times, this was no longer a major personal goal. However, the path to that point was tense. Internal conflicts and rivalries reached their peak, making the competition more intense than ever.
In the decisive stages, I had to play relentlessly. Both in the semifinals and finals, I made decisions that I would normally avoid, including breaking agreements against players who, for years, had pursued me. Winning in that way, against them, had a special flavor, but it also highlighted how much the environment had deteriorated. The title was a definitive answer, but the cost was high: animosity grew even more, and it became clear that that cycle was coming to an end for me. In the following days, I received hate messages. Yes, in a community of Catan.
About a month later, still under the pressure of a toxic environment, I became the victim of what I consider an injustice of that period. In my first game of the new MLC tournament, I was disqualified after winning. The reason? I allegedly acted against fair play.
By pressing the button to unpause the game while another player — who is part of that group and was acting passively agressive towards me — was checking the rules to see if a trade could prevent my victory, I didn't realize that this impulsive decision would result in a cascade of issues, making it difficult to pause the game.
Yes, it was an impulsive mistake. I shouldn't have unpaused the game at those moments, and I take responsibility for that. As soon as I realized the problem, I tried to repause, but the situation got out of control, with several people pressing the pause/unpause button at the same time.
Still, what happened afterward was disproportionate. There was no room for explanation, no attempt to understand the context. The next day, I woke up to a message of immediate disqualification, with no chance to defend myself. After four years of playing with integrity, never disrespecting the rules, my reputation was tarnished based on a single incident — exacerbated by a chronic issue with the platform, which is incomplete. Even though the statistics showed that I was responsible for only 30% of the clicks, the blame was placed entirely on me.
I don't mind being held responsible because it was largely my fault. But the way the situation was handled makes me wonder if it would have been the same with another player in my place. The lack of transparency, the absence of a right to defense, and the partiality of the platform owner make everything more blatant. My impression is that the stain on my reputation needed to be made, silencing me once and for all.
Water under the bridge. Everything was escalating so quickly that eventually, something like this was bound to happen. An emotional lapse, driven by recent conflicts and the hate I received, was the catalyst for something that was already on the horizon: my departure. Today, I see that, despite considering it an unfair process, it was something good that happened to me. It was time to step away from the toxic online scene.
What Went Wrong with the Online Community?
Tribalism, hate, and animosities. None of this fits with a board game. While the online community revolutionized the critical way of playing Catan, it no longer carries the spirit of the game. And it pains me to think about it, as my first blog post was precisely an ode to the scene.
That said, it's time to close this cycle of intensity and learning. And is there a better way to close it than with the world championship?
Catan World Championship: Expectations and Reality
In Stuttgart, I will once again have the opportunity to put into practice what I enjoy most about Catan: playing with social skills. With the added challenge of doing so in English.
Does being the player who has competed the most in high-level leagues over the past four years make me one of the favorites? No. I don’t believe there are favorites in short tournaments with only four qualifying games.
The numbers may indicate that I have a reasonable chance, higher than some competitors, but we remain at the mercy of chance. That’s why I hope that future tournaments will be structured in a more prolonged way, prioritizing consistency over playoffs. And this is a change I plan to advocate for.
The following image shows, statistically, each player’s chance in the tournament based on their baseline winrate. This concept represents the win rate each player would have if we played thousands, or even millions, of games. Naturally, the overall tournament average converges to 25%, but each player has their own baseline winrate, reflecting their true performance level.
Mine, for example, is about 36% in Division 1 (D1), considering my last 500 games. For live tournaments, my recorded winrate is 57%, although this number is likely inflated by the small sample size. Considering a more realistic scenario, I estimate my baseline winrate in qualifiers and national tournaments to be between 40% and 50%, while for the World Championship, where the level is even higher, my realistic range should be between 35% and 40%.
Therefore, I am fully aware that success does not depend solely on me.
In recent months, I have undergone preparation aimed at the World Championship: studying tactics, seeking insights, improving fundamentals and social play, and reconnecting with my playing style. With a peaceful heart, I arrive at the tournament knowing that I’ve given my best and that I will be in my best form. Not to guarantee that I will be the champion, but to do everything within my reach, being fair to my journey.
Conclusion and Next Steps
If I win all four games at the World Championship, I won’t be surprised. If I win six, that won’t surprise me either. And, similarly, if I lose them all, it won’t be unexpected. Catan is like that. The variance is part of the game. Anyone who hasn’t understood that hasn’t truly understood the spirit of the game.
As Catan enthusiasts, our role is to play well, to do our best. And that’s exactly what I will aim to do in Stuttgart.
My journey has, above all, been a journey of learning. I’ve learned from my mistakes, from my victories, and from those who’ve been part of this path. While I’m proud of the achievements and the stats I’ve accumulated, I regret the direction the online scene has taken. I recognize my part in that and acknowledge where I went wrong, hoping for forgiveness and offering it in return. Catan is a game of constant lessons, and I remain an eternal student.
To the friends who’ve been with me through this journey, I’m incredibly grateful for your support. To the Brazilian community, my commitment is that I’ll play for you.
To my readers, I say I’m closing this intense chapter, but I’ll soon begin another one. This time, focusing more on strategies and becoming an ambassador for competitive play. We’ll continue together, as always, exploring the competitive edge of Catan.
This was Catan Vanguard: Exporing the Competitive Frontier
Follow me on Instagram to track my journey at the World Championship.