I ran the EU Championships for the first time in 2005, when 5 Italians and 1 German attended the UK Championships we had 27 players! The next year I ran it in Birmingham, and we had over 60 players, then about 50 in 2007 at GameCon in Manchester. The next year, 2008, we struggled to get 20 at GameCon and then we had 18 IIRC at GameCon in 2009 (which I won 
). We then moved it to Holland, Utrecht, and had about 20, and then in 2011 it was in Germany and we only got about 12.
The trend is downwards, but... the nationals show that there are still players around who want competitive gaming.
I think the trick to a successful event is:
1) Guild Masters being VERY active pushing players to join the event
2) A good website for people to check rules, venue, dates, hotels, side-events etc.
3) Everybody talking about it regularly, everywhere.
4) All people try to find small gaming groups that are active and encourage them to join in!
5) Community events
6) Trading
7) Traders
8 ) OOP minis for sale
9) Drop out events
I know of gaming groups (as of 2011) in Germany, Czechia, Holland, Finland, Belgium and the UK.
I think we could bring 4 from the UK (3 is more likely, but we could have 5)
Microelf (2010 Champ)
Wanderer13 (2008 champ)
Alepulp (2009 champ)
Possible:
Bugginbear and his brother, maybe even Aravar.
EU Championship hall of FAME:
2005: Martin Zimdars (Germany)
2006: Cesare Carini (Italy)
2007: Vassily Alexandroc (Russia)
2008: Stuart Bleything (UK)
2009: Peter Scott (UK)
2010: Wayne McManus (UK)
2011: Bart Vergeer (Holland)
2012: ????
What about the other countries? Can this website email all the active gamers and tell them about the event?
Those who intend to come - get your flight tickets booked early, sign up, find hotels and TELL US ALL HERE - if people see that there is intent to come they are more likely to join in.
SIGN UP, SIGN UP!!!
Attendees:
Alepulp (UK)
Wanderer13 (UK)
Tig Baron (Belgium)
Koen (Holland)
Justjooavian (Finland)
Tulip (Finland)
dakiller66 (Belgium)
Miniatorix (Holland)
Wayne McManus (United Kingdom/US)
Ceduchuk (Belgium)
Erik Pede (Belgium)
Irwin Wagemans (Belgium)
Kay Kelterer (Germany)
Wiebke Kelterer (Germany)
Hamburg x2 (Germany)
Brian Suckar + friend (Germany)
Matob Matobsen +3 (Czechia)
Tomate Pourrie (Belgium)
+3 Belgians
Sirokh (USA)
Demetri0us (USA)
Joost (Holland)
Belgium 9
UK 3
Holland 3
Germany 6
Czechia 4
Italy 1
Finland 2
USA 2
30 so far.
I'll be there:)
I'm there, all weekend. Doing it all but the OE stuff (competence issue).
Dakiller (Tig Baron's Nightmare)
Not enough, yet, to make this a goer... anyone who is intending to come, please sign up early so we know to plan to run it.
Also encourage others to come... it's a great community event every time.
I think 8 names this far in advance is quite decent... But i'll point some other Dutchies to here during our next tournament;)
There is truth in what you say! How many of the mons crowd will play?
In the Cartazimut DDM tournaments, we always were between 6 and 12 players ...
1 more from the UK - Wayne.
Make sure your DDM friends know and sign up
Hi,
1 More Belgian here
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http://www.lolbase.net/eu/Ceduchuk
Great!
GRUUMSH (Belgium)...looking for Alepulp.
Hey peter, long time no see. I haven't played in a long time and my minis are buried under a ton of boxes since my recent move to a new house. But....I might be useful in other ways: logistics or even as a player if somebody provides me with a warband (I can play for the fun of it.)
And of course...it would be great to meet you again:)
So contact me at
Greetz,
GRUUMSH
Heya Erik - I've added you on Facebook so we can chat
Speak soon and I can provide a warband 
Hi Erik,
No problem for warbands, we always take some for new players (or old).
You're still in contact with other players from Antwerpen area ?
Happy to see you here
Xavier
Any more takers?
Sorry for taking so long...last week and coming week were working weeks and for me that means long days and no free time:)
I checked my agenda and barring unexpected events (like breaking my neck or stuff like that) I'l be able (and willing) to attend the EU championship.
I also had contact with "Charles the ghoul" (Erwin) and he is looking into it. Tomorrow I am calling him back to see if he can join in.
Concerning Peter: Last week was too hectic and next week will be more of the same and worse. Things will calm down at the start of May. I'll try to make time for some facebook chat time as soon as possible.
Cool - be good to catch up.
Cool, seems like we have group of 3 players from Czech republic would love to come.
Is there a possibility to sleep somewhere on the floor in the sleeping bag, or should we block some hotel or something?
So we're already up to 14 players? Sweet!
Information about the Mons Youth Inn
http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel007010.en.htm?lswitch=Y
Looked nice. 20 euros per night sounds ok too, since it includes breakfast. I did not have time to check how close it its to the event center.
A few meters, that's what is cool !!!
Sweet! I'm booking. I'm seriously trying to convince at least another Finn to join me. Maybe even trying to land there on Thursday already, so as to be able to say I've actually been to Mons and not just in one room there.
So, for now, we have :
Belgium
Mons area: 4 (+1 for saturday only +3 not sure yet)
Antwerpen area: 1 (+ maybe 1)
France: Maybe 1 no answer yet
Italia: Maybe 1 no answer yet
UK: 3
Holland: 2
Finland: 1 (+ maybe 1)
Czech Republic: 3
Not bad 6 months before the event !!!
Updated list
I'll be there!!!
If anyone enlists here, who knows they have been reported as a "maybe", please inform Ale of that. Finland gets another "maybe", so total 1 confirmed, 2 "maybe"'s from here.
Updated!
Quick check on all the players - are those who said so still intending to come?
My italian friend comes if he finished the olive's gathering.
I think we'll be around 20.
The timing of the con
Friday: 19h00 -> 03h00
Saturday: 10h00 -> 03h00
Sunday: 10h00 -> 19h00
About program
Somethink fun on friday night - Ideas ???
200 pts tournament on saturday
I have to see WotC Belgium for maybe have some Dungeon Command initiations on saturday night
500 pts tournament on sunday
Don't hesitate to give us your suggestions
Some suggestions:
Friday Night - Trading tables and 500pt arena format
Saturday
10am - warband registration - 200pt Assault.
11am - pairings
11:30 - 1st round
12:30 - Lunch
13:30 - 2nd round
14:45 - 3rd round
16:00 - 4th round
17:00 - Break and cut to top 4
19:00 - Community draft - all bring two boosters of some form... I think it's possible that there are some in Mons? I'm sure we can add beer to the equation here... it is Belgium...
20:00 - Round 1
21:15 - Round 2
22:30 - Round 3
24:00 - Prize giving...
Sunday
10am - Semi Finals
11:15 - Registration for 300 pt Arena Format (including finalists)
11:30 - Pairings and Round 1 of 300 pt Arena
12:45 - Finals and 3/4th place games, 300 pt Arena 2nd round
2:00 - 3rd round 300 pt Arena (2 byes to the finalists)
3:15 - 4th round
4:30 - 5th round
6:00 prize giving for 200 and 300 pt games.
What are your thoughts?