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QUINCY, ILL. -- A Quincy gamer could receive the trip of a lifetime. Scottie Waldhaus began playing the 'Settlers of Catan'  board game just three weeks ago at the Quincy Mall. Now he's playing his way for a plane ticket to Germany.

The Settlers of Catan was one of the first German-style board games to achieve popularity outside Europe.

"Catan is actually one of our best sellers in our store. We have a hard time keeping it on the shelves. It's a family game, a good competitive game," said Connie Fifer, who owns the game store, 'Down the Playce,' with her husband Gary Fifer.

"Basically, the goal of the game is to build the Green City and settle on the Island of Catan," said Scottie Waldhaus. "It's basically running probability and odds."

 It's so popular, stores around the country hold tournaments for it on a monthly basis. 

"They're scattered around throughout the year," said Gary.

"One day, I was walking through the mall and saw Gary in the window playing this game," said Waldhaus. "He taught me the game and I fell in love with it."

Down the Playce hosted a local tournament for the game in July.

"Scottie won four of the five," said Gary.

Which mean he's now one of sixteen finalists traveling to Indianapolis to compete in a worldwide Catan tournament, hosted by the Mayfair Games at Gen Con. If he wins there, he'll head to Germany to represent the U.S. in the Worldwide Catan Championship Tournament.

Will he make it to Germany?

"I'm gonna try," said Waldhaus. "I'd be like, Oh My God. I'm going to Germany. I've always wanted to go to Germany. Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky."

The worldwide championship tournament is held every two years and features players from around the world representing their home countries. This year, players will settle the competition in one of Germany's historic castles. The tournament will run from September 17 through the 20.