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Risk World Championships Round 1 - 2025 Season 1 FFA#

My first-ever Risk tournament match is here! In Round 1 of the 2025 Risk World Championships, I fought for survival in a high-stakes Free-for-All (FFA) match on Africa Advanced, aiming for a top-two finish. With careful positioning, smart eliminations, and a bit of luck, I secured 2nd place, earning 16 points toward the next round. Watch the full match and read my breakdown of key moments, strategies, and lessons learned.

Final Result: 🥈 2nd Place – 16 points earned ✅

🎥 Watch the Full Match Here:

Tournament Results Table#

Round Map Placement Result Video
R1 Africa Advanced 2nd 16 Points Watch

Game Breakdown#

Opening Position & Early Strategy#

  • My starting spread was quite good, allowing me to keep multiple positions open while avoiding early conflict.
  • I focused on spreading out to ensure I wasn’t trapped in a single region, keeping myself flexible for mid-game eliminations.
  • Key Decision: I kept an eye on Yellow and Green early on, identifying them as my main targets for elimination later.

Mid-Game Strategy & Card Control#

  • Around Turn 7-8, it became clear that some players were treating this like a fixed game, carefully positioning rather than rushing into fights.
  • I continued lining up on Yellow, knowing I needed to eliminate them at the right moment to gain their cards and reinforce my troops.
  • Card Timing: I secured a key set of cards, allowing me to make a big push at the right time.

End-Game: Key Eliminations & The Race for Survival#

  • Turn 15-16: I successfully eliminated Yellow, securing their cards and setting myself up for another elimination.
  • First Blood Bonus: Taking out an opponent not only gave me extra points but also positioned me well for the final rounds.
  • White’s Huge Play: White managed to pull off a game-changing elimination, securing enough cards to dominate the final turns.
  • Survival Mode: I knew I couldn’t win outright, but by playing defensively and forcing White to focus on Green, I secured my 2nd place finish.

Final Thoughts & Lessons Learned#

✅ Spread to survive – On Africa Advanced, stacking in one area is risky. Wide positioning makes you harder to eliminate when opponents cash in big trades. The more your stacks are scattered, the less likely anyone can wipe you out in a single turn.

✅ Bonuses are bait – In progressive games, chasing early continent bonuses just makes you a target. Strong players will break your bonus or line up to take you out when your troop count dips.

✅ Line up before you strike – The most successful eliminations in this match were set up 1–2 turns in advance. Portals make last-second attacks possible, but only if you're already in position. Line up before your trade-in—not after.

✅ Stack discipline matters – One poorly placed stack can block a clean elimination route or leave you exposed. Every fortify should serve a purpose.

✅ Stay unpredictable – The best way to survive is to stay off everyone’s radar. Don’t hold bonuses. Don’t get too big. Just be everywhere, and be hard to kill.

This round taught me that Africa Advanced isn’t about control—it’s about patience, positioning, and knowing when to strike. A well-timed elimination is worth more than any bonus, and sometimes the smartest move is just staying alive until it's your turn to pounce.

Next Up: Round 2!#

This was a fantastic start to my first tournament, and I’m already analyzing strategies for Round 2. Expect even stronger plays, better positioning, and a more aggressive push for victory!

📌 Stay tuned for my Round 2 breakdown and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more Risk strategy content!