The Star Wars Trading Card Game now has its first official champion, as Joseph H. Leake weathered twelve hours of high-stakes competition to win a grand prize package that includes a trip for two to Sydney, Australia.

Gen Con Game Fair on Saturday, August 10 was the battleground for card-carrying combatants as they used their decks to simulate the battle of the light side versus the dark side. In Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars Trading Card Game, players customize their decks with cards of varying power and effect, and do battle in three combat "arenas" -- character, ground and space. The first player to conquer two arenas wins.

As the day went on, the dozens of players eventually were pared down to 32 rankings with various prizes. Leake was not among strangers in the semi-finals, as two of his close friends also placed high enough. David Hsu and Steve Smith placed fourth and ninth, respectively. The trio had finalized their card strategies together that week, locking their competition decks on Wednesday.

The plan was that if two of them ended up in competition in the final round, they would both go to Australia as the grand prize, and it looked close. However, once Hsu ended up placing fourth and Leake won against John Miller, he got to break the good news to his girlfriend: they'd be going to Australia.

"She couldn't believe it. She was very excited," said Leake, after placing a cell phone call to her. "We've been playing the TCG since about two months after it was released. I picked up a few cards, and my girlfriend's really into Star Wars, so I thought it'd be a good game we could play together. Maybe it's a good thing she didn't come, because she regularly kicks my butt."

The grand prize consists of a trip for two to Sydney, Australia, including seven days accommodations, passes to Fox Studios Australia (where Episode II was filmed), and ,000 spending cash. Also, Leake will receive a Sony entertainment package, including a 32" HDTV, surround sound stereo system, PlayStation 2, the Episode I DVD, and a selection of LucasArts games. Rounding out the prize is a complete set of Star Wars Unleashed figures, the exclusive Jorg Sacul figure, and Star Wars TCG booster packs and promo cards. For details on the prizes, see this story here.

For more on the Star Wars TCG, visit the official Wizards of the Coast website here. This first competition was open to everyone, though future ones will be invitation only. Here are the 32 finalists in the Championship:

First Place: Joseph H. Leake
Second Place: John Miller
3rd - 4th (Tie): David Inderstrodt, David Hsu
5th - 8th (Tie): Nikolaus J. Vincent, Chad D. Storm, Steven M. McNulty, Russell Rosales

9. Steve Smith
10. Jeremy Budrow
11. Richard J. Murphy
12. Scott R. Lelivelt
13. Scott A. Landis
14. Ryan Nuss
15. Adam Schafer
16. Davion Dare
17. Wallace Johnson, Jr.
18. Michael Radloff
19. Brian Hunter
20. Chris M. Haynes
21. Kurt A. Woelfer
22. Jeremy Inlow
23. Colton Petherick
24. B.C. Gonzalez
25. Matt Wehner
26. Peter Hilbelink
27. Michael Stock
28. Brandon Evans
29. Eric Weitekemper
30. Garland Dunlap
31. Rick Grendell
32. Nicholas N. Shahan

For more starwars.com Gen Con 2002 coverage, check out:

• RPG Previews at Gen Con
• Q & A with Star Wars Authors
• TCG Championship This Saturday