The second serving of Half & Half then a Cwtch took place recently at a new venue, The Arena in Newport, continuing the growing one-day tournament series organised by Sabeel Mohammed as part of the Welsh Tournament Series 2026.
With 30 coaches in attendance and a lower entry cost of just £13, the event once again provided a relaxed, competitive day of Blood Bowl without needing to commit to a full weekend away. The Half & Half events are quickly building a reputation as some of the most enjoyable one-day tournaments on the Welsh calendar, offering plenty of games, great atmosphere.
A Different Stop for the Series
This event saw the Half & Half series head to The Arena in Newport, a venue primarily designed for larger scale wargaming events. While Firestorm Games remains part of the rotation for future events, it was great to see the series try something different with an alternative venue.
Tucked away in the middle of an industrial estate, The Arena might not look like the obvious Blood Bowl destination from the outside, but inside it proved to be a fantastic space for tournament gaming. There was plenty of room for tables, coaches, and spectators, giving the event a spacious and relaxed feel throughout the day.
One amusing adjustment for many Blood Bowl coaches was the setup itself, with most games played standing up rather than seated. A new experience for plenty of players, although seating was available for anyone who needed it. Thankfully, the extra space and layout worked brilliantly and helped give the event a slightly different feel from the usual packed tournament halls.
Fast-Paced One Day Blood Bowl
As with the rest of the Half & Half series, the format focused on delivering competitive Blood Bowl in a single day, making it ideal for coaches wanting a tournament fix without losing an entire weekend.
The games were played in good spirits throughout the day, with a nice balance of experienced tournament regulars and newer faces joining the action. The atmosphere remained friendly and welcoming from start to finish, something that continues to define the Welsh Blood Bowl scene.
Final Standings
Top 3
- 1st Place: Hopkins
- 2nd Place: Thatotherasianguy
A huge congratulations to Hopkins for taking the overall win, navigating a strong field of coaches to claim first place on the day.
Special mention also goes to Thatotherasianguy, who not only secured second place overall, but also picked up both the Most Touchdowns and Most Casualties awards. A seriously impressive performance across the tournament.
Special Awards
- Most Touchdowns: Thatotherasianguy
- Most Casualties: Thatotherasianguy
- Stunty Champion: Nightwing
- Best Painted: Fluffythealien
- Last Place: Scumbag
As always, it was great to see awards spread across different coaches and playstyles, from brutal casualty counts to beautifully painted teams and stunty heroics.
Welsh Tournament Series
As the second event in the Welsh Tournament Series 2026, the tournament offered another valuable opportunity for coaches to collect points towards the overall standings.
The Half & Half series continues to play an important role in the Welsh calendar, offering accessible one-day events that still provide plenty of competitive Blood Bowl and series implications.
You can follow the full Welsh Tournament Series standings and upcoming events here:
https://bloodbowlwales.co.uk/welsh-tournament-series/
Final Thoughts
Another successful Half & Half event is in the books, and the trip to The Arena proved to be a great addition to the tournament rotation. The spacious venue, relaxed atmosphere, and strong turnout of 30 coaches helped create another enjoyable day of Blood Bowl for everyone involved.
The Half & Half series continues to carve out its own place within the Welsh tournament scene, offering accessible one-day events that still deliver plenty of competitive action, laughs, and community spirit. The mix of venues between Firestorm Games and The Arena also helps keep the series feeling fresh throughout the year.
A big thank you goes to Sabeel Mohammed for continuing to organise and grow the Half & Half tournaments. The effort being put into these events is clearly paying off, and it is fantastic to see the series continuing to attract both experienced tournament regulars and newer coaches alike.
Looking forward to the next helping already.