AC Worlds: Mulliner 3, Maloof 2

Screenshot from the Livestream. Note that 66 viewers were still tuned in. (L to R) USCA President Johnny Mitchell, Stephen Mulliner and David Openshaw

THE COMEBACK KID

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- In a final that had everything, England's Stephen Mulliner repeated his Saturday performance and once again came back from an 0-2 deficit to American David Maloof to claim his first WCF World Association Croquet title. The scoreline went down as 22-26, 9-26, 26-21, 26-19, 26tp-0 for Mulliner in an 11.5 hour epic that stretched out from the morning start to an under the lights finish at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The entire final was broadcast via Livestream by Sherif Abdelwahab. Simon Jenkins brought audio commentary to the live feed in the afternoon and did what must have been six or seven hours of stellar solo commentary (minus a brief break provided by Reg Bamford). The live feed carried through to the awards and in what was unprecedented step forward for the sport. At it's peak, the Livestream broadcast had 144 viewers, while the text commentary also remained strong with 121 followers at peak. Add to that 200 spectators at the venue.

Other winners on day included Ian Lines for the Plate, James Death for the Bowl and Stephen Forster for the Shield.

FULL CROQUETSCORES.COM KNOCKOUT BRACKET: croquetscores.com/2016/ac/wcf-world-championship/main-ko

WCF EVENT REPORT: www.worldcroquet.org.uk/index.php/latest-news/195-stephen-mulliner-is-the-new-ac-world-champion

TEXT COMMENTARY: croquetscores.com/2016/ac/wcf-world-championship/commentaries/7649

AC Worlds-Maloof versus Mulliner

Photo by Jeff Soo -- " Stephen Mulliner, England’s colors on his jersey and flying in the background, pegs out to win his semi-final match against top seed and four-time champion Reg Bamford."

LIVESTREAM OF THE FINAL:

livestream.com/accounts/18489438/events/5205737 

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- It was a stunning day of action at the 2016 WCF World Croquet Championship yesterday at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. American David Maloof continued his drive to the final with a 3-1 win over David Maugham (ENG). Maugham got the first game with triple, but Maloof took over from there and once the momentum swung it seemed all go his way. He joins Ben Rothman as the only US player to reach the AC World Final.

In the other semifinal, the script seemed to be going according to plan as Reg Bamford (ZAF) jumped out 2-0 and offered up a bit of shock and awe with a sextuple in game one. Stephen Mulliner then took game three with a 26tp-6 score. Ho-hum, right? Even the guys on ESPN probably know that Bamford isn't going to be denied with just one win to and three opportunities. But then, Mulliner followed with is own sextuple in game four and all of the sudden we're in game five and the murmors started to roll throughout the NCC.

Once the action in game five started and Mulliner was in, the historic comeback seemed inevitable. Sherif Abdelwahab kicked on the Livestream and personally, I was able to pop that view up onto my living room 37" HD TV in the living room and watch croquet history from Kansas City. Mulliner did finish 26tp-0 in that last game and advanced 3-2 on what turned out to be a thrilling day of croquet action.

SCORELINES:
Maloof defeats Maugham: 13-26tp, 26tp-1, 26tp-22, 26tp-1
Mulliner defeats Bamford: 0-26sxp, 13-26, 26tp-6, 26sxp-0, 26tp-0

TODAYS COMMENTARY:
croquetscores.com/2016/ac/wcf-world-championship/commentaries/7649 

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AC Worlds-The Real Final Four

Photo from Jeff Soo -- "photo of David on his match-winning turn in the QFs, Mieke watching nervously in the background"

THE USUAL SUSPECTS PLUS AN AMERICAN

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- The 2016 WCF World Croquet Championship has now narrowed down from 80 players to the four best. Along the way, the event had some predictability as well as some new wrinkles. Primarily, David Maloof became just the fourth American to make the final four as was able to take down the 2013 AC World Runner-up Paddy Chapman 26-9, 7-26tp, 26-0, 26otp-12. Maloof joins Jerry Stark (1990), Jaques Fournier (2001) and Ben Rothman (2009) as the only Americans to make the final four in the 15 editions of the WCF World Championship.

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AC Worlds-Eight Players Left Standing

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- As 16 players went into battle on Thursday in best of five action, only two players were able to pull off "upsets" in the 2016 WCF AC World Championship. It happened to be the two Americans, David Maloof and Danny Huneycutt that went against the rankings. All of the other matches went according to the proper math, although #10 Samir Patel (ENG) had to go the distance to hold off #42 Jose Riva (ESP) 26otp-13, 22-26, 9-26tp, 26tp-20, 26-5. David Maugham (#7) (ENG) also had to go to five to hold off #26 Chris Williams (WLS) as did #8 Stephen Mulliner (ENG) in his match against #25 Stephen Forster (AUS). 
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AC Worlds-Sweet 16

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA -- It was a tough day for the American hopefuls as five of seven players were knocked out in the round of 32 at the 2016 WCF AC World Championship in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was particulary surprising to see four of five US players fall in the bottom (or right) half of the bracket. Included in that group was the top-ranked US player Ben Rothman (#13) as he fell 26-10, 21-26tp, 0-26tp to Jose Riva (#42) from Spain.
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Round of 32 - Lunch Update

Taking a scan through the scores rolling in and James Hopgood (ENG), Stephen Forster (AUS) and Stephen Mulliner (ENG) are the first to move into the Sweet 16. By ranking, those went as expected with the Forster (#25) vs Soo (#27) being a bit of a toss up.

Interesting challenges out there include #116 Sam Murray of Scotland winning game one again #12 Gavin Carter (ENG) 26-1. Carter came back in game two 26-0 and the now move to the decider.

#52 Danny Huneycutt (USA) took game one against #9 James Death (ENG) 26tp-24. They are still working through game two.

#13 Ben Rothman (USA) and #42 Jose Riva (ESP) and tied and going to a game three. Rothman took the first game 26-10, then Riva came back 26tp-21.

#76 Stephen Morgan (USA) and #10 Samir Patel (ENG are also going to game three. Patel took game one 26-14 and Morgan came back in game two with a 26-0 win.

2016 AC Worlds-Into the Knockout

Other than MacRob, there's nothing better in the sport of croquet than the opening day of the AC Worlds knockout. For regular citizens, that means the World Championship is now entering into the playoff phase with 32 players. It's not clear yet as to whether or not today's round will be best of five or best of three, but it should be clear soon enough.

As for the actual matchups and bracket, I'm not sure that I'll ever force myself to read the WCF Sports Regs to fully understand the selection, but it always produces some interesting scenarios ...

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2016 AC Worlds - Day 3 Block Standings

Day three had a flurry of action at the 2016 WCF Association World Championship and you can see below a few tiebreakers will be on deck. Block F and Block H have interesting unfinished game scenarios. In Block F, Ian Lines (ENG) can avoid a tiebreaker playoff with Ted Salter (AUS) if he can finish with a win over
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