Molten Magnificence Continues

[antiaircraft]

Obligatory disclaimer: This news report was written to inform you all of the latest Altador Cup results in as entertaining a manner as possible. The rest of its content is largely fictional, composed from various fan comments and the whims of our imagination in an attempt to inspire a sense of realism through our reporting. While we do our best to keep things reasonably neutral, this report is in no way intended to be a completely bias-free listing of the day's results, nor does it claim to provide critical analysis of past and potential outcomes from qualified Altador Cup experts. Please note that the opinions formulated in this report are from a full team of different reporters, and in no way represent the views of only a single faction. If you're looking for 100% unbiased performance data, take a look at our standings page. If professional analysis tickles your fancy, you want our predictions pages (global/daily).

 

Hello again everyone, and welcome once again to TDN's coverage of the Altador Cup. We're getting close to the end of the first round of the new tournament format, and friendly disagreements (e.g. riots) aside, fans and analysts alike are all riding the wave of excitement accompanying the latest day's results. Let's begin with a look at the news from Vaeolus Bracket - Lydia, over to you.

 

"Get a Mermaid over here, we've got another bush on fire! Oh hey, I'm on! Hi AA, and thanks. No, this time I did not start the rioting.

 

<img src="https://images.neopets.com/altador/altadorcup/2012/team_members/moltara_2.gif" alt="Tulah Kisner" style="float:left;margin:5px;"> This time you can blame the Hotheads, and, honestly, I'd be out there setting things on fire if I were part of them. In probably one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Altador Cup, Moltara drew Virtupets in Yooyuball. This may have only been topped by their win in Yooyuball last year against Krawk Island.

 

Virtupets has had a slow season start this year, nearly getting swept almost every day, except for their game against Faerieland, but even that day they were unable to take Slushie Slinger, or even draw for that matter.

 

But, the Hotheads are burning brightly with the fuel of motivated fans. Now the question is: could they take the cup? Could they do the seemingly impossible - moving from 18th to 1st in one year? They're facing Krawk Island for the first time this tournament today. This was the first big powerhouse they took on last year and successfully beat. They've done it before, they can do it again.

 

<img src="https://images.neopets.com/altador/altadorcup/2012/team_members/maraqua_2.gif " alt="Oten Runeu" style="float:right;margin:5px;"> On the other end of the humidity spectrum, Maraqua was able to get its first sweep of the season. Perhaps the water weighed down the Faeries' wings because they were unable to even pull a draw in Slushie Slinger.

 

Darigan Citadel has been doing well this season, currently placed fifth. In yesterday's match against fellow powerhouse Krawk Island, they drew in both Slushie Slinger and Yooyuball. However, the Minions took both Make Some Noise and Shootout Showdown. They are another team that is on fire!

 

What? No, I'm not on fire -- [Lydia is drenched by a Mermaid and only snow is heard as she dumps water out of her microphone and shrugs.]"

 

Thanks Lydia, and uh... we'll be sure to get the heater warmed up for you back at the newsroom.

 

<img src="https://images.neopets.com/items/slu_asparagus.gif" alt="Asparaqus Delight Slushie" style="float:left;margin:5px;"> Vaeolus Bracket wasn't the only group to see a sweep yesterday - day five seems to have allocated us one per bracket, as Teams Terror Mountain and Altador suffered across-the-board defeats at the hands of Mystery Island and Tyrannia respectively. Spirits remained generally high however, as Minitheus Bracket leaders Mystery Island were so impressed by the Terror Mountain Chillers' tactics on the field that they insisted on scheduling a series of off-season practice matches together. Meanwhile, the captains of Alabriss Bracket contenders Altador and Tyrannia were mysteriously absent from the usual post-match press conferences, only to be found later sharing slushies (of the rarely seen Asparagus Delight flavour) and swapping amusing anecdotes at the expense of various team members.

 

"I've got no illusions about our performance this year," remarked "Trapper" Remis of Team Altador, "it's more than a little short of what I'd call satisfactory. But if I wanted 'satisfactory', I'd be back at my day job filling in performance reviews. We're here to play the most exciting sport Neopia has seen in a very long time, and to host it in accordance with Altador's finest values and traditions. Given a choice between maintaining the highest degree of sportsmanship we can manage, and standing on a podium with a shiny trinket, I'd pick sportsmanship every time."

 

"Of course, that's not to say they're mutually exclusive, or that Altador doesn't have a few more tricks up its sleeve," added Tyrannian Team Captain Loryche. Unfortunately she declined to comment further on the matter.

 

Elsewhere in Alabriss Bracket, medieval rivals Brightvale and Meridell met on the playing field in a truly impressive exhibition of advanced Yooyuball strategy. Pitting two highly intelligent and exceedingly dedicated teams against each other generally results in quite a headache for record book publishers, and yesterday was no exception, with standing records for minimum scoring time, maximum scoring range, and pass interception rate shattered more than once over the course of the match. When the dust finally settled, both teams were level on the scoreboard, and an exhausted referee opted not to push the game into overtime. Instead, relentless slushie slinging and noise making by Meridell's fans, coupled with a solid showing in Shootout Showdown, sealed the overall victory in the Knights' favour.

 

<img src="https://images.neopets.com/caption/sm_caption_937.gif" alt="The wrong flavour of slushie ruins the day" style="width:100px;float:left;margin:5px;"> Rounding off Alabriss Bracket, underdog stars Kiko Lake managed to deal top-ranked Team Kreludor their first loss of the season, coming away with a victory in Slushie Slinger - no mean feat for the Kikos, especially taking into account a mid-match health and safety scare at the Kiko Lake slushie stands. Kreludor's fans kept a solid grip on Make Some Noise however, and wins in both Yooyu sports set the outcome decisively in the Moons' favour.

 

"I'm certainly glad we were able to perform well in this match, and I can't thank our fans enough for their steady support from the stands," acknowledged Kreludor's Team Captain, Derlyn Fonnet. "Things got pretty tough out there today. Kiko Lake played with more skill and ferocity than we were prepared for. In fact, every time we meet they play with more skill and ferocity than we were prepared for. I honestly don't think it's possible to prepare well for a match with such spirited opponents. So, good game to them, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them joining us near the top of the leaderboard in the very near future."

 

<img src="https://images.neopets.com/altador/altadorcup/2012/team_members/lostdesert_2.gif" alt=" Vonde Cayle" style="float:right;margin:5px;"> The Desert Marauders and Roo Islanders, two of the more powerful teams in Minitheus Bracket, ended their match with a similarly decisive outcome. Claiming Yooyuball, Slushie Slinger, and Shootout Showdown, Team Lost Desert sent a clear message that they were back in form and ready to go head-to-head with the heavyweights once more, although they did end up conceding Make Some Noise to Roo Island's indomitable supporters. Asked by one reporter if he felt any bitterness regarding the Lost Desert's superior performance as fellow former champions, Roo Island Captain Lilo Blumario simply replied, "Nobody likes a sour git."

 

Things were considerably less clear cut in the final Minitheus Bracket battle between the Haunted Woods Zombies and Shenkuu Ninjas. While the Zombies' fans were clearly the most enthused when it came to Make Some Noise, Shenkuu's graceful finesse paid off when it came to the slushie stands. Though both teams focus heavily on defence when it comes to Yooyuball, this match was hardly the dull, repetitive back-and-forth many analysts expected. The game was dominated by high speed, high energy pass chains, impossible rebound shots, and more clutch saves than you can shake a stick at - and it certainly didn't hurt to see Team Haunted Woods' signature advancing defensive line pitted against Shenkuu's stealth support striker strategy. In the end, neither team quite managed to pull ahead of the other, and it came down to a few extra penalty shootout goals to nudge Shenkuu into the overall lead.

 

Today, we can look forward to yet another series of hard fought matches as the final rankings for round one of the tournament are hammered out. Vaeolus Bracket has Team Virtupets looking to redeem themselves against Team Maraqua, while Moltara battle to prove themselves against the Krawk Island Pirates, and Team Faerieland push hard to make their mark on the Darigan Citadel.

 

Over in Minitheus Bracket, Mystery Island and the Lost Desert cross guards with Roo Island and the Haunted Woods respectively. Lower in the bracket, Terror Mountain and Shenkuu will be giving it their all to pick up whatever momentum they can - as the days tick past, victories will gradually become more valuable, and they'll definitely want to kick into gear sooner rather than later.

 

After fending off a resolute challenge from Team Kiko Lake, Alabriss Bracket leaders Kreludor will have to face down the similarly determined Brightvale Wizards, while the Kikos move on to duke it out with Team Tyrannia. Cup hosts Team Altador are up against tough odds once again, taking on the Meridell Knights in the final match of the round.

 

This is AA, reporting for The Daily Neopets, signing off. Good luck out there!

[Sakabato]

I really like that Moltara's been improving!

[LizyMarie]

Oh gosh I'm so proud of Moltara! We made the new twice in a row for being such good sports! WEEEEHHHH!!!

[Person335]

:happydance:

Ha ha! See? I told all of you. I told y'all Moltara's going to step it up this time. And these past two days definitely proves it!

Oh, but that's only the beginning! Wait until you see what comes next!

[Secre]

It's nice to see that Moltara aren't merely going to be a bottom tier team for the rest of existence...

[:)Doc]

Woo Maraqua! Got out first sweep! Now number 4. WE GOT THIS. :rock:

[Desertfreak]

OMG LOST DESERT IN 3RD YEAH AND MOLTARA DRAWED IN YYB AGAINST VITRUPETS WOW THAT DAY WAS AWESOME

 

LOST DESERT FOR THE CUP

[voteforpedro333]

I am definitely liking how the tournament is going so far.

[Rebecca~]

Yay for Moltara! It's good to see them doing so well. :D