The hunt for Australia’s National CATAN Champion started last weekend with State Championship heats in SA at The Lost Dice, with finals to follow on 4 June. Additional State Championships will be held in QLD, NSW and VIC, with winners of each tournament vying for a seat in the Top 16 at the Australian CATAN National Championship held in Canberra on 6 August 2022. 

64 players at the National Championship will then compete for a place in the top four where a champion will be crowned to represent Australia at the CATAN World Championship in Malta in November 2022. First through fourth placements at the World Championships receive a trophy and assorted CATAN-themed merchandise. The Winner gets a stack of games (titles TBC) and a seat and trip to the next World Championships in 2024. Top 16 placements also receive upgraded game pieces!

Full schedule below with links to register (both the NSW and QLD Championships are selling fast!):

• SA State Championship
  • Heats from 7 to 28 May on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 5pm ACST
  • Finals on 4 June, time TBC
  • Venue: The Lost Dice
  • Admission: $8.50
• QLD State Championship: 21 May, 10am AEST
  • Venue: Geebung RSL
  • Admission: TBC  
• NSW State Championship: 28 May, 10:15am AEST
  • Venue: Behold Games
  • Admission: $10 
• VIC State Championship: 4 June, 4pm to 9pm AEST
  • Venue: Fortress Melbourne
  • Admission: $21.53 
  • Watch at https://www.twitch.tv/fortressmelb or head to Fortress for free spectator entry
• Australia CATAN National Championship: 6 August, 10am to 10pm AEST
  • Venue: Eastlake Football Club
  • Admission: $43.29 

Players don’t have to qualify at State Championships to enter the National Championships.

State Championship prizes are below:

1. Winner: $1,000 travel expenses and free entry to the CATAN National Championship in Canberra, plus a seat at the Nationals Top 16
2. Second place (CATAN bundle valued at $199.80): 
   1. The Rivals for CATAN (SRP: $44.95)
   2. Logiquest CATAN Logic Puzzle (SRP: $39.95)
   3. CATAN Accessories Red Dice Hexatower (SRP: $34.95)
   4. CATAN Accessories Trading Post (SRP: $79.95)
3. Third place (CATAN Bundle valued at $94.85):
   1. CATAN Cities & Knights 5-6 Player Extension (SRP: $44.95)
   2. CATAN Cities & Knights Expansion Card Deck 5th Edition (SRP: $19.95)
   3. CATANimals Plushy (assorted variety) (SRP: $29.95)
4. Door prizes:
   1. 3 x CATANimals Plushies (assorted variety) (SRP: $29.95)

Popular gateway board game CATAN hosts the CATAN World Championships bi-annually, sending each country’s National Champions to the Championships to compete to be the World Champion. The tournament first started in 1995 in Germany and expanded internationally in the following years.