i've beat swift before.. at least once on taiga... and probably one or two other times in a neighbor war... but those mean nothing. they weren't because i was almost as good overall. games like that just happen if you play someone enough.. you're bound to win one or two here or there.
the time i "almost won" was different though... and i dont think i said i almost won... i said we were near equals. it was a knock down drag out 30 or so minute game where basically every gold mine was drained except middle.. whoever held middle won the game. every single attack was being neutralized/equalized by the other. there was not one point in the first 95% of the game where an observer could say "tk or swift is ahead".
i wish i had an insight of that game.