Final Results!
It is no surprise that this was the hardest round of the competition to judge; finals are every judge's nightmare. We went in with only a vague notion of who might win and after seeing the poems, that notion got even vaguer.
Both poems were excellent.
After boiling down all the facts, we came to the conclusion that our metric we had used to judge the entire rest of the competition was not going to work here. What we had was a situation of good art vs good poetry and not a clue which to choose.
We did what all great people do in a time of crisis. We called for reinforcement and our celebrity judge kit joined us on the panel.
With three judges discussing every element of the poems and turning them inside out, we locked ourselves in a facebook room until we finally had two votes in favour of one poem.
And the winner was...
Spoiler
PenguinAttack!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the April Madness. Its been a crazy ride and I feel like I've lived and breathed poetry for the last month in a way I never have before. I'd like to give a special thank you to my co judge Karzkin who has been absolutely incredible and to Kit who was a lifesaver at the end (even if she does think I'm 'Sweet Cheeks'.
This year our champion has been decided but as for next year? It could be any one of you.
I'm genuinely sad that this is over, but keep writing poetry and I'll see you again next year (or, like, tomorrow).
*********************************
A continuation of this thread: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=97386&p=1129148#p1129148
With only two days left to sign up, I decided I ought to tell you a little more about the rules! Then I realised I needed to write some, but after lots of quick thinking, here's what I came up with:
What is April Madness?
24 Poets face off against one another to be named the supreme poet of YWS! They compete in a series of rounds, each poet submitting a poem to be compared with their opponent's. The rounds work as follows:
April Madness Chart (Click to zoom) [Now Updated!]
Round One Results!
Spoiler
Don't click that link to the chart just yet, not unless you want to spoil the surprise! Here's what you've all been waiting for and after a few last minute changes to the line up, this is what our round looked like:
methrirr123 vs wordsandwishes
niteowl vs Aley
Persy vs Sparkle
Birkhoff vs megsug
Animal vs Rydia
kayfortnight vs Hannah
indieeloise vs TwistedMuffins
spottedkit1999 vs Shino
PenguinAttack vs Audy
Cspr vs ongoeslife
ShadowVyper vs Meshugenah
GeeLyria vs AlfredSymon
The first battle got us off to a sticky start with very little difference in the points, but after some careful conferring, the winner was wordsandwishes! Then the next two combatants weren't going down without a fight, but niteowl secured the victory. Persy proved too strong in the third battle and megsug stole the fourth place on winner's row.
But not to worry methirr123, Aley, Sparkle and Birkhoff, you all have a chance to claw back that victory in the next round!
Our fifth battle was one of sorrow as the teacher faced the pupil, but this time Rydia came out on top. She was closely followed by a very hungry Hannah who refused to be knocked back in the first round. Battle six gave spectators their money's worth, with indieeloise edging into the lead and Shino claimed the crown in battle eight.
Animal, kayfortnight, TwistedMuffins and spottedkit1999 will have to work hard to stay in the competition!
It feels anti-climatic to tell of the star crossed lovers next, but never was a closer fight seen. The judges disagreed, then they agreed, then they were almost ready to disagree again, but at last the storm eased and a battle-scarred Audy stepped out.
Not to be out done, Cspr brought out the claws and Meshugenah ripped a new door through the challenge wall. With only one place left, the final battle (minus Audy's and Pengi's which raged long into the night) was to be one of the closest yet, but AlfredSymon crept into the last place.
PenguinAttack, ongoeslife, ShadowVyper and GeeLyria take up their positions for the next round. They are not lying down a second time!
Thank you all for some seriously awesome poetry and see the spoiler below for who you will be facing next.
methrirr123 vs wordsandwishes
niteowl vs Aley
Persy vs Sparkle
Birkhoff vs megsug
Animal vs Rydia
kayfortnight vs Hannah
indieeloise vs TwistedMuffins
spottedkit1999 vs Shino
PenguinAttack vs Audy
Cspr vs ongoeslife
ShadowVyper vs Meshugenah
GeeLyria vs AlfredSymon
The first battle got us off to a sticky start with very little difference in the points, but after some careful conferring, the winner was wordsandwishes! Then the next two combatants weren't going down without a fight, but niteowl secured the victory. Persy proved too strong in the third battle and megsug stole the fourth place on winner's row.
But not to worry methirr123, Aley, Sparkle and Birkhoff, you all have a chance to claw back that victory in the next round!
Our fifth battle was one of sorrow as the teacher faced the pupil, but this time Rydia came out on top. She was closely followed by a very hungry Hannah who refused to be knocked back in the first round. Battle six gave spectators their money's worth, with indieeloise edging into the lead and Shino claimed the crown in battle eight.
Animal, kayfortnight, TwistedMuffins and spottedkit1999 will have to work hard to stay in the competition!
It feels anti-climatic to tell of the star crossed lovers next, but never was a closer fight seen. The judges disagreed, then they agreed, then they were almost ready to disagree again, but at last the storm eased and a battle-scarred Audy stepped out.
Not to be out done, Cspr brought out the claws and Meshugenah ripped a new door through the challenge wall. With only one place left, the final battle (minus Audy's and Pengi's which raged long into the night) was to be one of the closest yet, but AlfredSymon crept into the last place.
PenguinAttack, ongoeslife, ShadowVyper and GeeLyria take up their positions for the next round. They are not lying down a second time!
Thank you all for some seriously awesome poetry and see the spoiler below for who you will be facing next.
Round Two Results!
Spoiler
The first battle ensued with great ferocity and both warriors were so deadly in their attacks that the judges could not tell who had won! So a challenge was issued and both poets were commanded to bring their sharpest weapons and duel at dawn. It was close. It was scary. It was finally over and out of the blood stepped methirr123.
Our next two contestants sized each other up and made careful tests of the other's strength, but then they met in a frenzy of blades and Sparkle was victorious. She was quickly followed by kayfortnight who craftily led her opponent into a trap in order to secure the third place in the next round. But what was this? The jusges looked around in confusion as neither opponent in the fourth battle chose to turn up and it was decided they must have each scared the other away.
The fifth battle lasted much longer, for though a deadly blow was landed in the early strikes, the opponent hung on bravely and left the victorious PenguinAttack with an aching wound. The final two contestants eyed up the last place and each put forward a violent claim, but it was to be GeeLyria who crawled onto the final podium.
Sadly we take our leave of Aley, Birkhoff, Animal, TwistedMuffins, spottedkit1999, ongoeslife and ShadowVyper, brave poets all. But the world knows them now as fierce warriors and others will cower in their wake.
Our next two contestants sized each other up and made careful tests of the other's strength, but then they met in a frenzy of blades and Sparkle was victorious. She was quickly followed by kayfortnight who craftily led her opponent into a trap in order to secure the third place in the next round. But what was this? The jusges looked around in confusion as neither opponent in the fourth battle chose to turn up and it was decided they must have each scared the other away.
The fifth battle lasted much longer, for though a deadly blow was landed in the early strikes, the opponent hung on bravely and left the victorious PenguinAttack with an aching wound. The final two contestants eyed up the last place and each put forward a violent claim, but it was to be GeeLyria who crawled onto the final podium.
Sadly we take our leave of Aley, Birkhoff, Animal, TwistedMuffins, spottedkit1999, ongoeslife and ShadowVyper, brave poets all. But the world knows them now as fierce warriors and others will cower in their wake.
Finale Uno Results!
Spoiler
It's starting to get serious. I could give you all the preamble about what a close call battle so and so was, but to be honest, from here on out they're all close calls. So here were the matches:
methrirr123 vs Sparkle vs kayfortnight
PenguinAttack vs GeeLyria
The first person to earn their way back into the contest was Sparkle. Everyone please give a big round of applause!
The second person to earn their way back into the contest was PenguinAttack, congratulations!
These two will now face one another on the 23rd April. All listings will be updated after the results of the current round.
methrirr123 vs Sparkle vs kayfortnight
PenguinAttack vs GeeLyria
The first person to earn their way back into the contest was Sparkle. Everyone please give a big round of applause!
The second person to earn their way back into the contest was PenguinAttack, congratulations!
These two will now face one another on the 23rd April. All listings will be updated after the results of the current round.
Round Three Results!
Spoiler
The battle to make it into the quarter finals was long and arduous, let's take a final look at who our contestants were...
wordsandwishes vs niteowl
Persy vs megsug
Rydia vs Hannah
indieeloise vs Shino
Audy vs Cspr
Meshugenah vs AlfredSymon
The poets through to the quarter finals are: wordsandwishes, Persy, Rydia, indieeloise, Audy and Meshugenah. They are joined by Sparkle and PenguinAttack from the previous round. Congratulations to you all!
We have to say farewell to a lot of really strong poets now and none should feel bad about leaving the competition at this stage. Perhaps next year's winner is even amongst them, I don't know. What I do know is we can expect to see more excellent poetry from them in the future!
As the contest draws to its final stages, we have crossed the line into new territory. Contestants may now submit any poem written in April to the contest, they may even choose to use the same poem from here on out. Good luck to you all and may the words be with you!
wordsandwishes vs niteowl
Persy vs megsug
Rydia vs Hannah
indieeloise vs Shino
Audy vs Cspr
Meshugenah vs AlfredSymon
The poets through to the quarter finals are: wordsandwishes, Persy, Rydia, indieeloise, Audy and Meshugenah. They are joined by Sparkle and PenguinAttack from the previous round. Congratulations to you all!
We have to say farewell to a lot of really strong poets now and none should feel bad about leaving the competition at this stage. Perhaps next year's winner is even amongst them, I don't know. What I do know is we can expect to see more excellent poetry from them in the future!
As the contest draws to its final stages, we have crossed the line into new territory. Contestants may now submit any poem written in April to the contest, they may even choose to use the same poem from here on out. Good luck to you all and may the words be with you!
Quarter Final Results!
Spoiler
I'd like to apologise for the delay in these results, but the two who should actually be apologising to you are Audy and Meshugenah. They have not made this an easy decision! Without further ado, the four semi finalists are:
Persy vs Rydia and Audy vs PenguinAttack
Is anyone else getting deja vu? It seems that Audy and PenguinAttack will be facing each other for the second time!
My deepest commiserations to the poets who didn't make it through this round, but you can all go away knowing that you were worthy opponents!
Persy vs Rydia and Audy vs PenguinAttack
Is anyone else getting deja vu? It seems that Audy and PenguinAttack will be facing each other for the second time!
My deepest commiserations to the poets who didn't make it through this round, but you can all go away knowing that you were worthy opponents!
Spoiler
Semi Final Results!
We are down to just two contestants and I am now ready to reveal who those are! After weeks of gruelling battle and more than a few broken pencils (or hearts?) the two poets facing off in the April Madness final are:
Persy and PenguinAttack!
This is certain to be a final to remember and I am literally on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what poems they will submit. Please wish both of our finalists the best of luck!
Click Spoiler for Round Break-Down
Spoiler
week 1: First Heat
2nd April
methirr123 vs wordsandwishes
niteowl vs Aley
Persy vs Sparkle
Birkhoff vs megsug
4th April
Animal vs Rydia
kayfortnight vs Hannah
indieeloise vs TwistedMuffins
spottedkit1999 vs Shino
6th April
PenguinAttack vs Audy
Cspr vs ongoeslife
ShadowVyper vs Meshugenah
GeeLyria vs AlfredSymon
week 2: Loser's Heat
9th April
methrirr123 vs Aley
Sparkle vs Birkhoff
Animal vs kayfortnight
11th April
TwistedMuffins vs spottedkit1999
PenguinAttack vs ongoeslife
ShadowVyper vs GeeLyria
13th April 15th April
methirr123 vs Sparkle vs kayfortnight
PenguinAttack vs GeeLyria
week 3: Second Heat
15th April
wordsandwishes vs niteowl
Persy vs megsug
17th April
Rydia vs Hannah
indieeloise vs Shino
19th April
Audy vs Cspr
Meshugenah vs AlfredSymon
week 4: Finals
Quarter Final
23rd April
wordsandwishes vs Persy
Rydia vs indieeloise
Audy vs Meshugenah
Sparkle vs PenguinAttack
Semi Final
25th April 27th April
Persy vs Rydia
Audy vs PenguinAttack
Final
30th April
Persy vs PenguinAttack
2nd April
methirr123 vs wordsandwishes
niteowl vs Aley
Persy vs Sparkle
Birkhoff vs megsug
4th April
Animal vs Rydia
kayfortnight vs Hannah
indieeloise vs TwistedMuffins
spottedkit1999 vs Shino
6th April
PenguinAttack vs Audy
Cspr vs ongoeslife
ShadowVyper vs Meshugenah
GeeLyria vs AlfredSymon
week 2: Loser's Heat
9th April
methrirr123 vs Aley
Sparkle vs Birkhoff
Animal vs kayfortnight
11th April
TwistedMuffins vs spottedkit1999
PenguinAttack vs ongoeslife
ShadowVyper vs GeeLyria
methirr123 vs Sparkle vs kayfortnight
PenguinAttack vs GeeLyria
week 3: Second Heat
15th April
wordsandwishes vs niteowl
Persy vs megsug
17th April
Rydia vs Hannah
indieeloise vs Shino
19th April
Audy vs Cspr
Meshugenah vs AlfredSymon
week 4: Finals
Quarter Final
23rd April
wordsandwishes vs Persy
Rydia vs indieeloise
Audy vs Meshugenah
Sparkle vs PenguinAttack
Semi Final
Persy vs Rydia
Audy vs PenguinAttack
Final
30th April
Persy vs PenguinAttack
The Competitors
Please post on this thread to sign up for one of the final five places. If there are no places left but you wish to take part, please sign up to be a replacement. All replacement poets will submit a poem during round one on the 2nd April. Should any contestant fail to submit their poem, you will then face their opponent instead.
Judges
1. Karzkin
2. Rydia
Contestants
Spoiler
1. Audy
2. Animal
3. Hannah
4. PenguinAttack
5. Rydia
6. Cspr
7. niteowl
8. Shino
9. VeniVidiVici
10. spottedkit1999
11. TwistedMuffins
12. Sparkle
13. indieeloise
14. Birkhoff
15. kayfortnight
16. ongoeslife
17. wordsandwishes
18. Aley
19. Persy
20. megsug
21. ShadowVyper
22. Meshugenah
23. GeeLyria
24. AlfredSymon
Replacements/ Maybes
1.Whisperer
2.methirr123
3.ongoeslife
4. Toe
2. Animal
3. Hannah
4. PenguinAttack
5. Rydia
6. Cspr
7. niteowl
8. Shino
9. VeniVidiVici
10. spottedkit1999
11. TwistedMuffins
12. Sparkle
13. indieeloise
14. Birkhoff
15. kayfortnight
16. ongoeslife
17. wordsandwishes
18. Aley
19. Persy
20. megsug
21. ShadowVyper
22. Meshugenah
23. GeeLyria
24. AlfredSymon
Replacements/ Maybes
1.
2.
3.
4. Toe
The Rules
1. Poems are to be written no more than two days before their round, with the exception of the final and semi finals.
2. Poems may be any genre or length.
3. Poems must be submitted on this thread (either the poem or a link to it) by 12:00pm GMT on the day of the round.
4. The results of each round will be posted as follows: First Heat on 7th April. Loser's Heat on 12th April. Loser's Final on 15th April. Second Heat on 21st April. Quarter Final on 24th April. Semi Final on 26th April. Final on 30th April.
5. Poems for the Semi Final and the Final must have been written in April. A poet may use any of the poems they have submitted in a previous round or one not submitted before.
