On May 10, 2025, Saskatoon made history by hosting its first official CATAN National Qualifier — and thanks to your incredible support, it was a massive success.
Hosted at The Gather, we welcomed 46 passionate players from across the province for a full day of competition, connection, and community. What started as a grassroots event quickly turned into something far bigger than we expected, with amazing energy from start to finish.
“A packed house at The Gather for Saskatchewan’s first CATAN National Qualifier!”
Tournament Results & Final Standings
After five intense rounds, the final table delivered some of the most exciting gameplay we’ve seen. We’re thrilled to congratulate our champion, James Kwasnicki, who played a perfect event with five straight 10-point wins!
Final Table – Top 4 Players
1st – James Kwasnicki
Scores: 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 10
James earns a seat at the 2025 CATAN Canada National Championship.
2nd – Emmanuel Vela
Scores: 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 7
3rd – Diego Moya
Scores: 10 / 7 / 10 / 10 / 7
4th – Brennan Phillips
Scores: 4 / 10 / 10 / 10 / 6
Top 16 Standings
- Dave Stangier – 10 / 10 / 7 / 8
- Damon Ross – 8 / 10 / 9 / 8
- Dayen Spice – 8 / 9 / 10 / 8
- Jordana Knoblauch – 8 / 7 / 10 / 8
- Brian Gorecki – 10 / 10 / 10 / 6
- Brandon Tolentino – 8 / 10 / 7 / 6
- Rylee Moody – 10 / 10 / 6 / 5
- Matt Grossman – 10 / 4 / 10 / 5
- Bernardo Jung – 9 / 10 / 6 / 4
- Jordan Lennon – 7 / 10 / 7 / 4
- Josh Minhinnick – 10 / 8 / 6 / 4
- Jessica Hillcoat – 10 / 10 / 9 / 2
Media Coverage & Community Response
We were blown away to have CTV News attend and feature the tournament in a televised segment, helping showcase Saskatoon’s vibrant and growing board game community. The full article and video can be viewed here: 👉 CTV News Coverage – May 10 Event
The feedback from players and vendors has been overwhelming. Deadly Dan sold out of burgers and hotdogs, the churro vendor had an amazing day, and the folks at SaskMade were among those who strongly encouraged us to come back. We couldn’t have done this without all of you!
What’s Next: Upcoming Events
We’re proud to announce two more major SaskCatan events are coming this summer — and both will be hosted once again at The Gather:
June 28 – CATAN: Connect the World
Join players in over 30 countries for a synchronized global game of CATAN – Connect. We’re aiming for 54 players, with a cap of 72. This will be live streamed internationally, so we’ll be representing Saskatchewan on the global stage!
August 23 – Second National Qualifier
Want your shot at the 2026 Nationals? Join us for another full-day tournament — check-in at 8:00 AM, games run until 5:00 PM. Expect great food, intense competition, and a strong community vibe.
Now Available: Limited Edition Merch
To celebrate our first major event, we’ve launched a limited edition commemorative crewneck sweatshirt:
“Qualifier No. 001 – The Beginning” — a perfect way to mark your part in SaskCatan history.
Available for a limited time only in the SaskCatan Store.
We’ve also added other shirts and accessories for fans who want to support future events. 80–90% of all profits go right back into SaskCatan — helping fund venues, prizes, advertising, and more.
This is our first merch launch, and we want you to feel confident ordering. For a limited time, we’re offering case-by-case refunds for print quality issues to ensure you’re fully satisfied. That said, we’ve done our homework, and the vendors we’ve selected provide solid quality across the board.
Thank You, Saskatchewan
This event exceeded all expectations — and it happened because of YOU.
From players and volunteers to vendors and friends, we’re so grateful to be building something special together. The foundation has been set, and the future of SaskCatan looks brighter than ever.
We can’t wait to see you at the next one.
– Tyrel Wilgosh
Founder & Organizer, SaskCatan