I Did It Again: The Journey to My Second Catan National Title
A Story of My Back-to-Back Championship, with Details of the Final Game and Reflections on the Growth of the Competitive Catan Scene in Brazil
"It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!” - Rocky
Rocky was my favorite movie series during my teenage years. Although I had no connection to boxing, I saw in Stallone's character an inspiring romanticization of his redemption arc.
I've always been extremely competitive, both in sports and any kind of competition—even in school. Without a doubt, that competitive spirit helped me become a better student and, eventually, a doctor.
However, I still lacked the glory of a genuine competition, something that truly made sense to fight for. We all know that life is a competition in many ways, but should we really approach it as such?
It was in Catan, in 2021, that I found the perfect outlet to channel my competitive spirit. After discovering my passion for the strategies of the game, I devoted myself intensely. And today, I reap the rewards: national champion in 2023 and back-to-back champion in 2024.
In this game, particularly, Rocky’s quote resonates deeply. The way competitions are structured today, falling short is unfortunately very common, while success is rare and dependent on various factors. And I’ve fallen—many times!
But finally, I had my redemption arc, which began in 2023 and was sealed in 2024, in an epic tournament.
In this text, I want to do something different from my usual blog posts: a more personal account of my most recent victory, focusing on the technical details of the final match. Come with me on this journey!
The 2024 National Championship - São Paulo, Brazil.
I arrived in São Paulo on the night of August 2nd. I checked into a hotel, ordered a snack, and got ready for bed. However, three hours later, I woke up feeling extremely ill – likely due to food poisoning.
My health was an internal battleground. The pain and discomfort were so intense that I almost pulled out of the competition. Every attempt at rest was interrupted by nausea and sharp pains. I wondered if competing was even possible for me at that point.
I had traveled roughly 500km and waited all year for this moment. At the last minute, I felt slightly better and decided to go. Self-medicating and rehydrating, I arrived at the competition venue, still feeling weak.
With my stomach still unsettled and my mind cloudy, the determination to participate was my final act of courage. Whatever happens, happens…
There were 68 participants in total. Established names in the national scene were already present: some online players, others primarily in-person competitors, but with decades of experience; recent and past champions. Overall, it was the crème de la crème of Brazilian Catan – regional champions and finalists from a country of over 200 million people, the second largest in the Western world!
It was the perfect setting for an electrifying championship.
And it didn’t disappoint. Four qualifying rounds were held to determine the semifinalists (16 advanced). As in the previous year, the cutoff for the top 16 was 2 wins and 33 points total. With 3 wins and a single 7-point loss, I secured fifth place.
In the semifinal, I was up against a Chess Master in his sixth semifinal in seven consecutive tournaments (!!), another very experienced player, and a rising player from the Curitiba School. Severely weakened, I made a few mistakes, but still managed to secure the win in a closely contested match.
There I was again: in my second final in a row! Exhausted. Drained. And deep down, proud. I could hardly believe what I had achieved.
The Grand Final
Luckily for me, the final was postponed to the following day. But before that, it was important to meet the other finalists.
And when I discovered who my opponents would be in the grand game of 2024, I had a pleasant surprise:
Thiago Kato, my friend with whom I had traveled to Colombia for the continental tournament, had secured his third consecutive spot in the finals. A semifinalist in the last world championship, Thiago is one of the major figures in the Brazilian Catan scene.
Despite being fully aware of the challenge ahead, at that moment, upon learning of each other’s qualification, genuine happiness took over. Perhaps that was the highlight of the day for me: a hug between two friends, two competitors, happy for one another. A perfect portrayal of friendly and healthy competition.
The other two players were Caio, another talent from Curitiba, who had secured second place in the qualifiers (with 3 wins and 39 points), and who had previously achieved first place overall in the 2022 championship (with an incredible 4 wins, a 100% success rate); and Marco, a new and very promising player in the competitive scene.
I headed back to my hotel, rested, and woke up excited for the tournament's final game.
And what a final it was! Below, I’ll lay out the step-by-step details of the final table.
The Setup
The settlement order was: Caio (orange), Felipe/me (red), Thiago (blue), and Marco (white). As the second player, I chose the 9-4-10 spot, and although I didn’t manage to get the 8-5 or 6-10-11 as I had hoped, I ended up with a solid OWS, which had already brought me four victories in the tournament and was exactly what I aimed for.
Caio had the flexibility to choose between going for the Longest Road or Largest Army, with good ports available. Thiago chose a solid side-by-side setup, though without significant ports, and Marco, being the last to choose, did the best he could with what was left, opting for an OWS with access to the wood port.
A Slow and Frustrating Start
The beginning of the game felt like a chess match on a Catan board. Each player was calculating their moves, watching their opponents’ strategies, and assessing opportunities. The atmosphere was thick with concentration and anticipation, and every move felt critical. While other players rose quickly, I struggled to keep pace. Every one of my moves was an attempt to recover lost ground and change the course of the game.
Thiago advanced quickly, establishing a city on a 6 of ore and acquiring two development cards. Caio bought development cards as well, securing the Largest Army, while Marco made progress with the help of the 11, which was being rolled frequently.
With the 6 of ore blocked, we realized that Thiago didn’t have knights, meaning he could be sitting on six points, just two roads and a settlement away from reaching nine points.
And it was at this moment that what you’d expect from a high-level table began: the balancing of the game.
Balancing the Game: A Challenge of Cooperation
As Thiago advanced with his city and development cards, the game grew increasingly tense. The frustration of missing out on the largest army and the constant blocking of the 6 ore left me feeling increasingly helpless. Each move felt like a battle, and I was at the center of the storm. The need for a balancing strategy became evident, and the idea of collaborating with Marco and Caio emerged as a lifeline. Cooperation among us was our only chance to prevent Thiago from gaining a decisive advantage.
I suggested that Caio (orange) should be the on focusing on securing the longest road, given Thiago’s rapid progress. Despite Thiago’s concerns about Caio dominating both victory conditions, we knew Caio would have to concentrate on one, and the longest road seemed the most feasible.
Then Thiago played a Monopoly card on ore, placing two more cities and getting dangerously close to victory. With this, Marco, Caio, and I began to coordinate our efforts. We knew that to slow Thiago down, we needed to help Caio extend his road. This would buy us time.
Port Service as a Balancing Strategy
I admit that after the Monopoly card, I sighed and almost succumbed to resignation. But in Catan, no game is ever truly lost.
The moment we began to coordinate was crucial. The sense of working together, aligning strategies, and making smart trades was both a relief and a challenge. Each resource exchange was a strategic move, an attempt to delay Thiago’s victory and create an opportunity for ourselves. The tension was palpable, but the hope for a comeback kept our fighting spirit alive.
We organized ourselves to use ports for producing bricks for Caio. We used what is known as Port Service multiple times, sometimes even triangulating trades between Caio, Marco, and myself, with Marco being the key contact for producing road resources.
With the road secured, we finally managed to breathe.
The Calculated Risk
At a certain point, Thiago (blue) extended his roads towards the 3:1 port. I, still with 5 points, had to make a risky decision: trade 3 sheep with the orange player in exchange for one resource, so that he could trade with the bank and continue extending his roads. In my position, far behind, making such a low-value trade in terms of resources was practically game suicide.
The weight of the choice felt almost physical, and the idea that this trade could be the end of my game was nerve-wracking.
But above all, I had to stay true to the style of play I believe in. I needed time, and I had to place my bets on balancing the game. It was my only way out.
From that moment on, I realized I also had to start buying development cards and playing them as effectively as possible to have any chance. In one turn, I bought two knights. I could now compete for the largest army, and I began moving the knight between the 11 and 9, from 9 back to 11, to gain momentum in the fight.
The Final Stretch: A Well-Timed Comeback
I drew two more development cards in a row: 2 victory points. That put me at 8 points with a settlement, while Thiago (blue) played a Year of Plenty and a Road Building card. Getting dangerously close to victory, he forced us to continue making smart trades to extend Caio’s (orange) road.
But now, the game was balanced, and everyone had a chance to win.
With each move in the final stretch, the tension in the air was almost tangible. My mind raced, and my heart pounded. At one point, Caio, already at 8 points, bought a development card. Every decision felt like a high-stakes gamble, and victory seemed to slip through my fingers. When I finally managed to build a city and gain another victory point from the bank, the feeling of relief and euphoria was indescribable. The hours of effort and the game’s tension transformed into a silent cry of triumph.
…
TWO-TIME BRAZILIAN CHAMPION!
Two-Time Brazilian Champion - These words echoed like a triumphant melody in my mind...
Final Reflections
The feeling of overcoming adversity and reaching the top was the ultimate reward — a celebration not only of victory but of perseverance and passion for the game.
I overcame the challenges of being an outcast in online Catan, with no significant titles and bitter defeats.
I overcame the illness that struck me the night before.
Yes, I was champion. Just another result. It may not mean much in theory, but the context makes it all the more special.
Catan is both a hobby and a passion. There’s so much to explore in this seemingly simple yet deeply complex game, which, at the highest level, requires a blend of social and logical skills within a vast tactical scope.
I’m thrilled to witness a scene that’s maturing, producing strong players and intelligent games. This has been happening on the international online stage for years.
But I also see it unfolding impressively in Brazil! The entire championship and this high-level final are perfect examples of that (shoutout to Caio, Thiago and Marco for being amazing players)
With so many contributors to the growth of the competitive scene, I can confidently say Brazil is rising as a Catan powerhouse on the global stage.
One of the key contributors is Devir Brasil. The company, which holds the rights to the game in Brazil, has made extraordinary efforts to promote regional tournaments—and is a global example for its exemplary organization of the National Championship.
Individuals who drive strategic discussions daily, especially the WhatsApp group “Catan Competitivo Brasil,” also deserve recognition.
Personally, I’d like to highlight the players from Curitiba. In that city, many players gather weekly to play and compete. Coincidence or not, Curitiba has become the biggest breeding ground for high-level players in Brazil. I affectionately call them the "Curitiba Catan School." A special acknowledgment goes to the organizers, especially Patty and Bruno (it4rahell), who also creates online strategic Catan content.
As for me…
Now, with these titles in hand, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. The work is done.
But the true victory goes beyond the trophies. It’s about growing and enhancing this hobby that, to me, is a true art. Together, let’s continue elevating Catan to new heights, both nationally and internationally. The journey has only just begun, and I’m here to contribute and support every step of the way.
Count on me to help turn every challenge into an opportunity and every game into a step toward excellence.
Parabens!
You are a really hard working player and really want to improve always, so well deserved!
Im Deglacooper (you know me from Colonist), happy to know that you made it as a Catan National champion! Last year i made it to the national finals here in Argentina, and this year i qualified but cant play cause i have a trip on that date.
Your story is inspiring, i hope you do it really well on world tournament!