đ Middle-earth March Madness 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP
The board is set. The pieces are moving. We come to it at last: the great battle of our time.
Characters from all across Middle-earth have faced off in the first few rounds of Middle-earth March Madness. And what was once a group of 32 contestants narrowed to the Company of 16, then to the Fellowship of the 8, and most recently to the Four of Power!
In the Four of Power, Frodo and Sam took on Merry and Pippin while Legolas and Gilmi went toe-to-toe with Beren and LĂșthien: who won each matchup and advances to the finals?
The Four of Power Results
Just two characters now remain: Frodo and Sam sent Merry and Pippin packing 75 to 25 and Legolas and Gimli did what even Melkor could not and defeated Beren and LĂșthien, 56 to 44.
Now the Fellowship breaks one last time as Frodo and Sam go up against Legolas and Gimli!
âMiddle-earth March Madnessâ â Final Round: The Middle-earth Championship
Frodo and Sam vs. Legolas and Gimli
Frodo and Samâs path to the championship has been almost as treacherous as the trek to Mordor, as they have defeated Celebrimbor and Annatar, Thorin and Bilbo, Bilbo and Gandalf, and Merry and Pippin.
But now they face Legolas and Gimli, who defeated Pippin and Beregrond, Sam and Bill, Elrond and Durin, and Beren and LĂșthien.
Will Frodo and Sam prove a match for Legolas and Gimli? Will Sam avenge poor Bill?? Or will Legolas and Gimli triumph?
Itâs all come down to this: the Hobbit champions of our Partners region versus the Elven and Dwarven winners of Unlikely Friendships region!
Vote here to choose the CHAMPION of Middle-earth Madness 2025!
Tolkien Reading Day Giveaway Results
Iâve contacted the winners of my Tolkien Reading Day Giveaway via email but not yet heard from them as of the writing of this newsletter. I hope to soon though and will announce the winners as soon as they confirm!
Thatâs all for today! Find out who won this yearâs tournament this Thursday, when the final Middle-earth March Madness issue hits your inboxes!
Namårië,
Josh
Echoes of Easter and Eucatastrophe
After the One Ring is destroyed and the Eagles bear Frodo and Sam from the slopes of Mount Doom, Sam wakes in a soft bed under a canopy of trees with a sweet scent in the air.
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Legoland and Gimli for me, because I love unlikely friendships.
I watched the Return of the King last night! I think that I'll vote for Frodo and Sam, because it is Sam's devotion that gets them all the way there. He wouldn't be there if it wasn't for his friendship with Frodo, and I feel that it counts for something.