CLOUD CITY, BESPIN: Last night we saw a new champion crowned in the Galactic Series of Sabacc. You may call him a smuggler or a thief, but one thing you now have to call Han Solo is champion. Solo took home 20,000 credits and one of Lando Calrissian’s ships, The Millennium Falcon after winning the back and forth grueling game of Sabacc in Cloud City.

The highly watched tournament was held in Yarith Bespin, a hotel located in Cloud City. Many Sabacc players had tried their best to win, but much of the intrigue began once the final table saw only five players left. Han faced his friend, Lando, a male Bothan, a female Rodian, and a male Chadra-Fan. The first player out was the Bothan after three plus hours of play. Then in an odd turn of events after folding a hand the female Rodian just dropped out of the tournament. There were still a lot of credits in the pot for the three remaining players. Once the pot reached 20,000 credits, the Chadra-Fan bowed out of the tourney, creating even more drama since it was just the two friends Han and Lando left to go one on one. The old pirates were battling fiercely and it could have been anyone’s game.

Always the charmer, Lando sweetened the pot by saying that any ship in his fleet would be up for grabs to the winner. The brash move looked like it was going to work out for Lando when he was holding The Idiot, The Two Staves, and The Seven Flasks. Lando was one card short of what Sabaac players call an Idiot’s Array. Thinking victory was his, Lando laid back in his chair getting ready to celebrate. Yet Han Solo got out of yet another tight spot. Han won the tournament with The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Five of Coins, The Six of Staves, and the Master of Coins, which is known as Pure Sabacc. For those who are not familiar with Sabaac, Pure Sabacc is when a player has a hand that is positive or negative twenty three.

Controversy then ensued once Solo asked to take the Falcon as his ship of choice from Lando. Lando argued that the Falcon was his own personal ship and not in the lot of ships to win. As always the clever Solo claimed that even a personal ship is considered part of Lando’s lot no matter if it is a fleet ship or a personal ship. Lando did eventually give up the Falcon and Solo was crowned champion in the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. Lando did joke with Solo saying “Watch out you old pirate, because I will get you back”. The two shared a laugh and then enjoyed an Alderaan Beer. Han did pay for the beers.

Thanks to Wookieepedia for help with the facts!

MTFBWY