Thomas Gottschalk, of all people. You have a lot of credit for him, but that he will win the Schafkopf tournament in the crossbow rifle tent at the Oktoberfest this year? No, not that. And yet the famous name is now emblazoned on the honor roll in the Rehbock box at the back right of the tent, right below the previous winners Florian Malcher and Helmut Wagner.
However, when you look at the winner’s photo, it becomes clear that the best Wiesn Schafkopfer 2023 is not the late-blonde Kulmbacher from Malibu, but a much younger gentleman from the Schafkopfclub Bayern, a native of Munich, who won the tournament “with an outstanding 81 points.” won, as organizer Stefan Aldenhoven reports: “The tournament went really well. 180 participants, including Hans Zach, Hilde Gerg and Marcus H. Rosenmüller, played at 45 tables, and at the end Steffen Horak from the Münchner Tafel received a donation of of 4000 euros will be handed over.”
It all sounds wonderful, but it leaves one central question unanswered: Who the hell, hell, hell is going to the Schafkopfen at Oktoberfest? Well, not even that few, as can be seen during a visit to the roebuck box. It’s a special setting: on a standard Oktoberfest lunchtime, half a dozen groups of four are sitting at beer tables and carving away in peace and quiet. Four people at the table instead of the usual ten: nowhere else at the Oktoberfest can you sit more relaxed. Most of them are wearing traditional costumes, one is wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Fridays for Schafkopf”. There is also an all-women group.
The conversations revolve around Wenz, the grass sow and sometimes high blood pressure. There are a few beers on the table, but they only play a minor role. The middle nave of the Armbrustschützenzelt is not yet full in the early afternoon, the Platzl Oktoberfest band is playing traditional brass music, the precursor to Layla and Co. A pleasantly hearty atmosphere where you can even have a conversation in the box.
Schafkopf has also been played at the Oktoberfest since 2018
For example with Stefan Aldenhoven, the long-time board member and founding member of the Schafkopfschule Munich, which was founded in 2004. He has been playing with his team “Weida United” in the Schafkopf Bayern League for a quarter of a century, planning, organizing and supervising courses for beginners and advanced players. And since the Inselkammer family of innkeepers approached him in 2018 because they wanted to promote Schafskopfen, Aldenhoven has also been making sure that this tradition, which is almost inherent in Bavaria, is not neglected at the largest festival in the world.
“In the beginning the idea was to keep a box free for sheepheads on certain days,” says the club’s board. “Our job was to look after the players and fill a table when someone was missing.” Standby sheep’s head, so to speak. The club has 25 members with the sole purpose of teaching sheepsheading to others. Advanced players can also get tips or play a tournament. “Once we played in the Olympic Tower revolving restaurant,” says Aldenhoven proudly.
Also at the Oktoberfest since 2018. Initially only in the first week, now in both weeks, from Monday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., before the evening Halligalli starts. You can reserve a table for four on the Armbrustschützenzelt website or join in spontaneously. After the Schafkopf box was well received in the first year, boss Katharina Inselkammer wanted a tournament in 2019.
Aldenhoven says: “Since we are well connected in the scene, the who’s who of Schafkopfen plays at our tournament: the first four from the past Schafkopf World Championships as well as the German and Bavarian champions. In terms of sport, it’s a top-class cast, but there are also “There are a lot of Gaudi players there, which makes for a nice mix. The tournament is now a sought-after highlight in the scene. Anyone who has been here comes back every year. And if you want to win, you have to get rid of some of the greats.”
Thomas Gottschalk did it. The reward: an Oktoberfest table including food in solid and liquid form. There were around 20 prizes to be won, restaurant vouchers and a signed original jersey from Thomas Müller. A few years ago, Aldenhoven recorded a sheepshead tutorial video with the Bayern star, together with former FC Bayern greats Hansi Dorfner and Peter Kupferschmidt.
“If you’re ambitious about sports, it’s difficult with beer”
The innkeeper couple Inselkammers had to miss out on this year’s tournament because the open-air concert was taking place at the Bavaria at the same time, where Peter Inselkammer was required to be innkeeper speaker. “Both of them were there at the first tournament,” remembers Aldenhoven. “She played the first round, he played the second, and together they at least made it into the top ten.”
There are two 32 games on the program in around four hours: you have to plan your beer consumption. “If you’re ambitious about sports, it’s difficult with beer,” says expert Aldenhoven. “There are some who drink ten wheat beers and still play great, but those are exceptions. Normally there is a drop in performance. A world champion like Harry Hug certainly doesn’t knock himself out. Beer just makes you tired.”
As an organizer, he only drinks non-alcoholic drinks at the Oktoberfest, for the sake of the Schafkopf: “Everything should go well – so that everyone comes back next time.” Also Thomas Gottschalk.