Competition Shrinks Rapidly In Russian Roulette Championships

Story by Ben Kantact 

| Published Nov 25, 2008

DEADWOOD, S.D. – In a town infamous for its history of gunslingers, modern day thrill-seekers gathered to compete in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest challenges in shooting sports.

The 35th annual International Russian Roulette Championship, which began last Saturday, is scheduled to hold its final round today at 6 p.m.

“We had a record turnout this year – over 500 competitors,” said Sheriff Russ Taylor, the tournament commissioner and master of ceremonies.  “‘Course, now there’s only 50 of ‘em left, but that’s the way it always goes.  Sure, not everybody can win, but people come here for the friendly atmosphere, the mix of cultures and, of course, the exciting competition.”

The precise origin of Russian roulette is unknown, but most experts agree that it began in Russia sometime during the 19th century. 

Competitors would load one round into a six-chamber revolver and take turns spinning the cylinder, placing the muzzle against their head, and pulling the trigger – the last man standing declared the winner.

While the game quickly became popular worldwide, it was not until 1974 that an international championship was officially recognized. 

Since then, competitors from all 50 states and 21 countries have, at one time or another, participated in the event, making a truly diverse and cosmopolitan event.

Last year’s champion, Howard Olson of Gillette, Wyo., is one of the 50 remaining contestants.  Olson broke the tradition when he returned to compete for a second International Championship title, a feat which has only been attempted thrice – never successfully – in the history of the tournament.

“Shucks, I’m just thrilled to have made it this far.  Paw would’ve been right proud o’ me,” Olson beamed, referencing his sharp-shooting father, the late Buck Olson, who left the 2005 Championship and the sport of Russian roulette after a disappointing third-place finish.

Like his father, Olson will face tough competition in the final day of roulette.  Ivan Vlascenko, reigning Russian national champion, and the only competitor from his country left in this year’s competition, has surprised many analysts who predicted he wouldn’t last until even the second day of the tournament.

Newcomer Zechariah Walters, of El Paso, Texas, struck many spectators as overconfident when he claimed to “never have lost a game” of Russian roulette as he registered for the tournament.

“Anything can happen in this here sport,” Taylor said, during the annual Sunday morning church service, which commemorated those shooters who had at that point already been knocked out of the tournament. “It’s real excitin’ like.”

Avid Russian roulette fans will remember such famous events as the 1988 Championship in Tombstone, Ariz., where the final round dragged on for nine hours until tournament officials discovered the gun had not been loaded.

There’s also the 1997 tournament in Dodge City, Kan., where no champion could be declared, owing to the fact that Ol’ George “Thunder” Jameson had stuffed two small sacks of gunpowder in his cheeks beforehand, eliminating all six final round competitors with the bullet that, under normal circumstances, would have only disqualified him.

“They didn’t call him ‘Thunder’ for nuthin’!” Olson said.  “But I’m an old-fashioned roulette man, just like Paw; all you’re gonna get from me is a good clean fight.”

Olson stated that, regardless of his performance at this year’s roulette competition, he will not participate in the 2009 tournament in Jackson Hole, Wyo.  “There’s a new generation of potential champions out there, and I think it’s high time that I hung up the ol’ revolver.”