Bounty or Bribery: You decide!

The Emerald Championship took place this past weekend and the winner, John Seals, representing the Unicorn Clan, has designated his choices for Emerald Champion. His first choice was the Recruitment Officer who, while not being a part of the ponies proper, would certainly make for an interesting choice. His back up choice was Utaku Ji-Yun who Mr. Reese hinted will likely wear the armor vacated by Jimen. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Seals was not the “winner” who has had the most focus as a result of the tournament. That would be Mr. David Winner and he comes into the spotlight for reasons other than his playing ability and runner-up finish.

Here’s the scenario as best as can be discerned from various threads on the AEG, Crane and Mantis forums:

1. Prior to the tournament, a Crane bounty is placed by David Winner, that monies will be paid if an untainted Crane is named the Emerald Champion. This obviously requires that a Crane win the tournament. The bounty is in the amount of $500.

2. David Winner ends up in the final four and is the only Crane player therein. He faces Will Brewer representing the Mantis clan.

3. At some time just prior to the beginning of their match, David offers half of the aforesaid bounty to Will if Will concedes.

4. Will either declines or is indecisive about the offer (it is unclear as Will’s tournament report has been edited once the situation blew up) and they proceed to game one.

5. Will wins game one. He loses game two (badly, by his account).

6. It is determined that John Seals will face the winner between David and Will.

7. Will concedes game three.

8. David loses in the finals.

Here is where things get murky: David offers to Will half of a bounty that he placed originally and happens to be the only person capable of claiming. This split is offered before anyone is in a direct position to actually claim the bounty, though Will’s prior knowledge of the bounty can be assumed to exist (though why he would need reminding of it JUST before they began play is curious). Will stated in his tournament report (which statement has since been removed from the Mantis forums) that “I fell on my sword in game 3 as I was offered a decent deal, was exhausted, had achieved more than I'd set out to do just by hitting Top 4, and knew Seals would be my opponent in finals and did not like my chances.” The ‘offered a decent deal’ part shows that the stipulation from David was a factor (one of four) in Will conceding game three.

These have been the general defenses offered:

1. No money ever (or yet) changed hands.

2. Will conceded and only after that fact went back to David about the fulfillment of the offer.

3. Will had every reason to be amicable to David because David had helped Will out previously. (Will posted on the Crane forums that he didn’t realize that David was Yoshi at the time).

4. There was no maliciousness present in the concession.

What do you guys think?

Editorial Note: I personally think that the slander has been put back into the Crane clan for the offer being made during the tournament itself. Mr. Winner, having just won Tanukifest, is clearly a capable player. For me, however, that he is the source of the bounty, is the only one capable of receiving the bounty as result of his stellar play, and offers a part of that bounty for a concession just prior to the start of his top four match (regardless of whether the money was ever paid out or not) deserves for Doji Yoshi’s card to be flipped upside down in dishonorable fashion.