Earth Rumble VII Skud Pai Sho Tournament

[Cannoli]

Day 5 of the tournament has begun! We’ve still got lots of great matches to get through, but before we do, it’s time to review the exciting events of yesterday! This is your daily report with BaronAlbatross and Cannoli.

WINNER’S BRACKET ROUND 2

Jokras and tree were the first to complete a match this round late at night, obviously to tree's advantage because tree needs not sleep . Both players opened with a 4-5, but by turn 7 tree had 2 Jades and Roses out opening up the possibility of a 3-5. While Jokras put his last pieces in place tree managed to make an elaborate ring of 3s, 4s, 5s and his own lotus to take the win.


Habadababu and ZxTinyJ started out mirroring one another making a double spiral pattern, but chaos touched their display when Habadababu sent his orchid out to cut a hole in the forming rings. Thus maintaining a threat over the south of the board, ZxTinyJ found it most opportune to plant in the north gate. Habadababu's own Lotus betrayed him in service to ZxTinyJ when he bloomed his last flower and took the win.]

Cpt_Seabear vs Dinosar was a short but exciting match. Both players blitzed at about the same rate getting 5-3 arrangements in place. Dinosaur missed an early win when he used a knotweed to complicate Cpt_Seabear's ring instead of using a wheel to unblock his own. Cpt_Seabear returned the favor, holding out long enough to sail his last flower into a winning ring on turn 9.

UlisCM and BaronAlbatross put on a spectacular show, and the final move of the game makes this match more than worth watching! BaronAlbatross started out with a 4-5 plant, and UlisCM followed suit. As Baron first moved his Southern W4 out of the gate, UlisCM planted behind him, revealing an intent to play for gate control. For the next few turns, UlisCM worked on a horizontal ring, as Baron tried to build a vertical one, with each player blocking the gates their opponent needed to complete a threat. Finally, UlisCM brought out their lotus, and planted an orchid on harmony bonus, leaving the West gate open behind them. Baron planted in this gate on harmony bonus, and UlisCM used the next turn to threaten Baron’s Northern lily. Rather than avoiding this threat, Baron elected to move his Eastern rose. UlisCM captured the W4, and Baron revealed the purpose behind his rose movement, using his opponent’s lotus and winning the game in a beautiful boat finish!

Ntturner vs Demilocke was certainly an interesting game to watch! Demilocke started out the game with a 3-5, and Ntturner mirrored this opener. The similarities quickly ended there, as Ntturner took the Southern gate as Demilocke moved his rose out. Demilocke focused on building a traditional 3-5 threat, while Ntturner took advantage of the North and South gates they controlled, outpacing Demilocke in the process. From there the two successfully exchanged blocks, including an orchid block from Demilocke. Not too long after, Demilocke brought out a lotus to build another ring threat, a move Ntturner took advantage of, using their own lotus to capture Demi’s orchid and complete their ring.

Yagalo vs JefferyMunro was an outstanding match, Yagalo opening with an effective combination of gate control and blooming. When Yagalo threatened a win on turn 14, Jeffreymunro responded by initiating a scuffle between the orchids. Yagalo's was the las standing and he directed it on a number of surgical strikes while Jeffreymunro employed other means of disruption. Despite this Yagalo managed to pull off a wheel finish on turn 21.
BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
The game chat revealed an unbelievable conspiracy, a boast of incredible magnitude! Read for yourselves and wonder at the boldness!
> Yagalo: Oh I am planning on being the one who dethrones dall(i)n
> jeffreymunro: Well I hope you do!
Will he do it?! Will dall(i)n hold his belt? Only time will tell! Stay tuned!

Resu532 vs Cannoli started out in a rather unusual way, Resu532 planting two Jades as an opening, and then both players began marching their flowers around the board. By turn 9 Cannoli's pieces seemed scattered and Resu532 was nearly ready to make a winning ring. At the last moment Cannoli dropped a knotweed and started showing the reason for his arrangement. From that point turn by turn Cannoli's ring grew sides until he coasted into victory on a wheel.

Queso314 vs Samurai_Appa saw Samurai_Appa using his signature alt 3-5 opener, forcing Queso314 to plant in a position unfavorable for most 3-5 counters. From there, Appa quickly formed his first threat while Queso lagged behind, further forcing Queso to use their first accent tile with only 3 flowers planted on the board. From there, Appa was able to circumvent Queso’s defenses, securing the win on turn 9.


Sensei_Wu and Liam_Keaggy13’s match was swift and decisive. Liam opened with a classic 3-5 starter, and though Sensei_Wu planted behind his rose, they did not use this to block Liam’s opener, instead opting to play for opposite gates. This is not to say that Wu did not play defensively, as they soon brought out their orchid to try to slow Liam down. Liam was not fazed by this, and quickly used the open Northern gate to bring out a white jade, move it into place, and remove Sensei_Wu’s knotweed on harmony bonus to form a ring.

LOSER’S BRACKET ROUND 1

Using an opener similar to Samurai_Appa’s, Megajotb defeated Flameo, using the unusual start to throw their opponent off balance, and outpace them in the process. Flameo attempted to play for gate control, but did not utilize the gates they held, and the attempt slowed them down even further as Megajotb raced ahead. By turn 8, Mega was able to move their last tile into place, boating away a rock to form a harmony ring.

Written by BaronAlbatross and Cannoli