New Monopoly U.S. National Champion Crowned in Washington Dc

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Richard Marinaccio of Buffalo, N.Y. takes home $20,580 and will represent the United States at the Monopoly World Championships in Las Vegas

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 15, 2009) – Richard Marinaccio, a 26 year old attorney from Sloan, N.Y. (near Buffalo) ’PASSED GO’ and collected $20,580 by dominating the 2009 MONOPOLY U.S. National Championship tournament in Washington, D.C.’s historic Union Station. In addition to being named the MONOPOLY U.S. National Champion, Marinaccio won an all-expense paid trip to represent the U.S.A. at the 13th MONOPOLY World Championship tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. this October.

In a final game lasting just under one hour and 15 minutes, Marinaccio bankrupted his three opponents, Brandon Baker of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Dale Crabtree of Indianapolis, Ind., and Timothy Vandenberg of Victorville, Calif. Marinaccio stunned the crowd with his risky decision to purchase Pacific Avenue early in the game and dedicate his resources to building up the green property group (typically seen as a low priority group by tournament players). Pacific Avenue was the secret to his success, however, as the last player to go bankrupt in the game did so by landing on that exact property space.