posted Dec 16th, 2012 - Yesterday's headline was actually correct, as nothing changed for the VFS 4way winner in Singapore, Dubai Nexus. However, not much else was still the same when participants of the event informed the NSL News that the meet was not over after eight rounds.

The competition draw was posted for only eight rounds since the last three sequences would be added after the "qualification rounds". Two of the six VFS 4way teams were then eliminated, and the remaining four top teams completed three more rounds.

This procedure makes sense in this category, as the VFS 4way dive pool does not have enough blocks and random formations to go beyond eight rounds without repeating some of them. The same procedure is not necessary in the traditional 4way event where the dive pool allows the drawing of eleven sequences. The format was still applied in both events, and the last three sequences were drawn after the completion of eight rounds.

iFLY Singapore 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Rd. 11	Total	Avg
Rank	VFS 4way	2,14,G	8,9,K	13,5,7	N,L,3,10	D,4,H,1	16,11,A	M,12,15	17,F,1	G,1,L,15	J,I,3,8	M,6,K,7	Total	Avg
1	Dubai Nexus (AE)	33	39(-1)	32	30	27(-1)	35(-2)	26(-1)	30	27	34(-4)	27	340	30.9
2	Evolution (CA)	31	38	25	27	24(-1)	34(-2)	24	23(-2)	29	40	25(-1)	320	29.1
3	Arizona Arsenal (US)	32	36(-1)	26(-1)	26	25	35(-1)	22(-3)	28	27	36(-2)	25	318	28.9
4	SDC Standard XP (US)	33	38	29	30	25(-1)	33(-1)	20(-4)	25(-4)	24(-2)	30(-4)	27(-2)	314	28.6
5	Bad Lieutenants (UK)	21	25(-2)	20	18(-1)	18	23(-2)	16(-1)	20(-2)	-	-	-	161	20.1
6	The Addicted (AU)	15	19	15	15	11	19	11	11	-	-	-	116	14.5

Nothing changed in the 4way Open Class standings after Round 8, except the tie breaker between Rotor Out and Maubeuge NPC to the advantage of the Australian team. SDC Rhythm XP had already taken away the 2nd place from Evolution in the three rounds of the second day and maintained it throughout the remainder of the meet.

Almost everything changed in VFS 4way, and there was a lot of drama in the finals. SDC Standard XP had four perfectly clean rounds on the first day, was securely in 2nd place, nine points ahead of Evolution, and still somehow in touch with the leader, Dubai Nexus. Rounds 5 - 8 were completely different, as Standard's scoresheet now showed penalties in each round.

The US national team still saved a 3-point lead over the US rival, Arizona Arsenal, beyond the 8-round finish line. Then came the finals with three more rounds.

The penalty troubles did not end for SDC Standard XP, and the additional eight point deductions in the last three rounds eventually had a devastating impact on the rankings. Standard lost 2nd and 3rd place to Evolution and Arsenal and went home empty handed after a total damage of 18 points in the second half of the meet.

It went the other way for the Lemay brothers and Katie Woods. Evolution was without medals and money after the eight qualification rounds. Then they posted two sole highscores and outscored even the leader who had not given away a round to any team in the first eight rounds. It made it even clearer what can be expected of Evolution in the coming years. It also improved Evolution's cash situation from $8,000 to $18,000...

Arizona Arsenal could not keep up with Canada's VFS 4way team, as well. However, Arsenal took advantage of SDC Standard XP's penalty troubles and outscored the US champions by seven points in the last three rounds. That was too much, and Standard ended up in 4th place. It was also the first time in 2011 and 2012 that Arsenal outscored Standard...