posted Jul 23rd, 2004 - How much closer could it be? DeLand Majik was one point behind France Maubeuge going into round ten. It was already exciting enough to watch how the US team reduced the French three-point lead to one point, frame by frame in the first two rounds of the last meet day. The teams have been so close to each other in rounds eight and nine that it was difficult to imagine a difference of more than one point in a round.

It was most likely that both teams would once again go the same pace and post the same scores within working time. The same scores in round ten would give France the victory. However, rounds eight and nine had clearly shown that Majik could also win another point and force France into a play-off situation. Of course, there is always the possibility of a significant mistake or a penalty situation, which would then decide the outcome of the race. Majik had already taken two penalties (rounds five and seven), and France had made mistakes (round seven).

It was still not very likely that either of the two top teams would fall due to mistakes or penalties. DeLand Majik and France Maubeuge had both delivered very reliable performances, especially in the two rounds of the last day. The best chances for Majik were probably just to continue with the same attitude as in the previous rounds and hoping for another point and a jump-off.

Round ten offered a different scenario compared to the two previous rounds though. France Maubeuge and DeLand Majik had both engineered rounds eight and nine exactly the same way, despite their general mirror-imaged systems. Round ten would present the major difference between the French engineering system and the Majik continuity plan of the past. Both teams would use a completely different engineering to get to the finish line.

France Maubeuge and most of the other French national teams in the past have always avoided mirror-imaged sequences. They did not like the body's and mind's initial negative reaction when the moving or turning direction would change, caused by muscle memory after a lot of training. The French teams would rather switch slots within the pieces and memorize a 10- or 12-point jump whenever Blocks 5 or 17 were a part of the sequence.

DeLand Majik and the majority of 4-way teams have taken the mirror-image blocks the way they came and changed the direction of moves and turns page by page to avoid the additional slot switchers of the French engineering system. There are many pros and cons for both strategies, and the explanation and discussion of these would fill pages.

Fact is that France Maubeuge has followed this engineering system consequently for many years without flinching and with great success. DeLand Majik on the other hand has never really changed or questioned their own system. However, the DeLand team was still open to different techniques and new suggestions. Majik's current technique for Block 8 (Canadian T - Canadian T) was the most recent example for flexibility. Majik also experimented with the French system this year and already added the option of replacing a mirror-imaged sequence by a slot switcher to the team's repertoire.

The US team looked at both options when round ten came up and decided that the mirror-imaged sequence felt better than a slot switcher. This might have been the gold and money winning decision. Both teams went almost exactly the same pace once again in round ten. None of the teams made any significant mistakes, and there were no penalties. The US team still won the round by two points, the Majik sequence just flowed a little bit better.

It was still and once again much closer than it sounds, and it was also again the Omniskore freeze frame image that finally gave Majik the one-point edge after ten rounds. The last image of France Maubeuge on the DZ-TV screen shows the Viper of Block 20 (Piver - Viper), which would be the 24th point of the sequence. The majority of the judges decided that the formation was not complete, the final score was 23 points. The 24th point for France Maubeuge would have forced both teams into a jump-off for the first place.

The completion of the 24th point was obviously at least very close, bad luck for France Maubeuge, happy end for DeLand Majik. Many people in the audience would have liked to watch another round of these world class athletes racing each other. However, it was over, celebration time for all participants.