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[VillageIdiot]

I’m so sorry, the trash talking section is reserved for finalists only. Would you mind stepping aside, Silicon Valley is expected any minute. We’ve got a really nice spectator section off to the side.

Thanks guys!

[ChippeRock]

Which part of that was trash talking?

[Hamilton Brian]

Which part of that was trash talking?

I think it was satire...

[ChippeRock]

Which part of that was trash talking?

I think it was satire...

I get that but I don't think the "trash talking" part was satire...

[ghug]

Not only that, my GR is pretty good, it's not on the VillageIdiot level but it indicates that if I played with you I wouldn't do too bad.

Your rhetoric in this thread strongly suggests otherwise.

[goldfinger0303]

And that wraps it up for the opening round! Only a few days after the actual World Cup Finals ended, ours shall begin!

At the top, with the number one overall seed; your returning champions; a team with swagger and sass to spare; a team who thoroughly dominated the opposition in their Group, despite a subpar Gunboat showing; they need no introduction because they've already told you who they are......TEAM CASCADIA!!!

In the number two seed, a dark horse candidate; a team who made it to the Finals in their first World Cup appearance, who came storming out of nowhere to snatch the Group B title at the last second; if you're counting them out, I've got a bridge to sell you; the corny kids from California......TEAM SILICON VALLEY!!!

In the third seed, we have a team from humble beginnings; a team that doesn't dominate the opposition, but coexists peacefully with them; a team who was not once eliminated from a game in the Group Stages; the ice to Cascadia's fire; your friendly neighbors from the chilly north......TEAM CANADA!!!!

Next, in the fourth seed, our first runner-ups in the Group Stage; who got here despite having a member who is literally the worst; a phoenix rising from the ashes of the last World Cup; a team probably more responsible than anyone else for getting two other teams into this final; they faded a bit after a lightning fast start, so can they restart the engines in time for a good Finals showing? Your Group B runner-up.....TEAM GREATEST LAKES!!!!

In the fifth slot is a team close to my heart; a team of scrappy fighters; they'll get what they want, even if they're annoying in doing so; a perennial World Cup Finals entrant; they've never taken the trophy home, but can they do it this time? The beasts from the East......TEAM EAST COAST!!!!!

The team in the sixth seed is the story of one man; his feats are legendary; by his gunboating skill, he almost single-handedly brought his team into the Finals; they had low expectations coming in, but shocked the world by sending Netherlands and South home empty-handed; from behind the Iron Curtain, in their first ever World Cup appearance......TEAM POLAND!!!!

Last, but certainly not least, we have a special team; though they struggled in the group stage, they have a world class pedigree; they came into this competition with high expectations, but were rebuilding from past World Cup Finals disappointments; the latest iteration of a team that has appeared in every World Cup Final; it's coming home......TEAM CALIFORNIA!!!!

As we prepare for the Finals, I would like to thank the members of every other team involved for being part in what has been an amazing tournament. Things have flowed smoothly, more or less, and it's all thanks to you! And a big shout-out to all the team captains for all the coordination they did. It's been a blast.

For those teams in the Finals, I will be sending out game creations a week from Sunday. In the meantime, contact all your members (to make sure they're alive) and start strategizing on who you will want to play in what role. Remember, now is the time where you can have players and subs switch roles. PM me the details of any roster changes you may have; otherwise I will just leave them the same as they were in the Group Stages.

[ghug]

It's interesting to note that three teams here are West Coast teams and three have Canadian members. Proximity to Cascadia seems to be an excellent predictor of success.

Our awesomeness is leaking.

[VashtaNeurotic]

It's interesting to note that three teams here are West Coast teams and three have Canadian members. Proximity to Cascadia seems to be an excellent predictor of success.

Our awesomeness is leaking.

And yet, Team East Coast still stands. You can't extinguish us all.

[slypups]

Definitely feeling good to advance out of the "Group of Death" group C (at least according to ChippeRock. Just think though, Chip, you could have advanced your group with a draw in our Public Press game, but you had to get yourself eliminated....

Really, though, I don't think the finals will be predictive of the strength of each group. One group may have had exceptional teams at the top, or just teams that had exceptional games while other teams had off games. Still, happy to advance :)

[goldfinger0303]

So, as far as the seeding contention goes, I remember right after the seeds were announced getting a blistering PM from Mercy crying foul, saying Netherlands had been shafted and put into a Group of Death. Indeed, I thought Group A had the stiffest competition. My initial impression was that East Coast, Netherlands, Iberia and Cascadia were all quality teams, and that midBest would make a good showing here and there.

Group B was full of unknowns and bad teams, with Greatest Lakes standing well above the next best member, Great Britain (who had Octavious' GR carry them perhaps higher than they should've been). I honestly didn't think the 7th team would come from there. Not by a long shot. I was predicting Greatest Lakes to just completely wipe the floor, once I saw GB collapse.

Group C I saw as having three good quality teams - California, South and Portuguese speakers. I thought Canada would slot into a midBest type position of performing well enough, but not seriously competing. I was half-right (they never topped a board, I think) but underestimated them. They got into a number of draws they had no business being in, and were overall just solid. Had a few games turned out slightly different, Group C would have completely changed. I thought ChippeRock was playing brilliantly at the end there. Eliminating slypups and 3-way or even 2-way drawing was the only way South would advance. So he did a good job encouraging Italy and Germany to solo

[Balki Bartokomous]

Congrats to the teams making the cut, and thanks to goldfinger for an entertaining write-up and a tightly run ship.

[goldfinger0303]

And as for scoring, I had an open comment period on the format of the tournament before it started. Everyone knew what they were getting into, and should've planned accordingly.

For those curious on how i did my seeding, I used the GR corresponding to the type of game you were slotted to play by your captain. Gunboat GR for Gunboat, FP GR for FP, regular GR for everyone else. I then converted these GRs to a composite GR index (because a 600 GR means something very different in Gunboat vs FP vs standard) and used these indexed GR scores to create team GRs

[Durga]

Was team poland group b? Are there TWO players from my fp game in this final? I thought this was supposed to be quality??

[Durga]

On top of that... Vash is in the final? What's happening. Congrats to everyone but Vash

[goldfinger0303]

If you're upset by that, the blame rests on your teammates, as I alluded to

[ChippeRock]

Not only that, my GR is pretty good, it's not on the VillageIdiot level but it indicates that if I played with you I wouldn't do too bad.

Your rhetoric in this thread strongly suggests otherwise.

Do I have to play several games against VI just to get you to change your opinion?

[VashtaNeurotic]

On top of that... Vash is in the final? What's happening. Congrats to everyone but Vash

2 time finalist VashtaNeurotic is what is happening

[VillageIdiot]

Not only that, my GR is pretty good, it's not on the VillageIdiot level but it indicates that if I played with you I wouldn't do too bad.

Your rhetoric in this thread strongly suggests otherwise.

Do I have to play several games against VI just to get you to change your opinion?

I’m sure Durga will let you account sit for her until September.

[celaph]

I’m so sorry, the trash talking section is reserved for finalists only. Would you mind stepping aside, Silicon Valley is expected any minute. We’ve got a really nice spectator section off to the side.

Are you saying that you expect us to trash talk?

Our team goal before round 1 was doing better than Greater Lakes did last year. We are clearly putting a premium on confidence.

[VillageIdiot]

Between CWag and all the Canadians this is going to be the politest war ever!