What it feels like to go to Worlds! Part 5

1. Some Players are Finished, Others Have Just Begun

The Ladder, Lucky's BBQ, the Wheel of Penalty, and the Championship freestyles are all complete, and the 3rd day of the World Yo-Yo Contest rolls around. Absolutly everyone gathers.

For players who fought to the very end, or those who were eliminated early, or pure spectators, the hall is packed beyond capacity on the third day, bubbling with excitement.

If you competed in the finals, the last day is the absolute peak of your excitement. This is the culmination of all the work and sweat you've poured into yo-yo for the past year. Some players can't breathe from excitement, and others fall into a trance. Since all Japanese players, regardless of how famous they are at home, are away players, they don't get quite the same reception as the home team of famous American players, but on the other hand, everyone standing on the final stage gets a warm round of cheers.

One's level of exposure is really dependent on how long they've been in the game, and the promotion videos they've made. So players who haven't acquired many fans get less cheers, which just accelerates their nervousness. The cheers of the audience have a great affect on the players, and may change the outcome of their freestyle. This isn't just true of Worlds, but of all stage performances. So the next time you see someone peforming on stage, be sure to give them your warmest support!

2. The Winners are Announced

As the third day draws to a close, the final results are tallied, and the final champions get crowned. The judges have had a rough few days, and have held up well despite the immense pressure. If you don't think judging a yo-yo contest is that hard, you should try it sometime.

The excitement builds, and plaqyers and fans alike stand wondering what names will be called out. The room is filled with energy, but it's slightly different from the nervousness before the contest, it's bittersweet: everyone is eager to learn the results, but at the same time, there's a bit of sadness that the whole event is about to come to an end.

The moment a champion is announced, there's a variety of responses. The crowd will generally go wild. Some players get an expression of disbelief on their faces, some are full of confidence as if they were expecting to win, and others are just filled with emotion and burst into tears of happiness. And with that, the end has come.

3. Now What?

By the middle of the night, the hall has been completely emptied, but players who don't want to see it end will assemble outside the hall and hang out with their friends until morning. They'll talk about the freestyles they saw and which ones they were moved by, congratulate each other for a job well done. Some of the older players will mix alcohol into their socializing. Either way, despite the fact that the hall is closed, many are in denial that Worlds is truly over.

Everyone has a fair amount of time to themselves to reflect on the events of the weekend between the end of the contest and the time they have to go home. Whether or not they received the ranking they expected, many players feel the fire of yo-yo passion relit within them. Some rare players decide they are done with it; the shock of losing may just push them away from it altogether. Even those who won may realize they've burned up all their passion, and decide to step away from it.
Nevertheless, attending Worlds is a major experience point for everyone, and almost no one regrets it, and everyone gains something from it. It's an experience no one forgets.

At AP2011, this year's 1A champion, Marcus Koh asked Jun:
"So Shinya is working for REWIND now?"
"Yep."
"So, is he just working for the yo-yo company, or does he have to have another job?"
"Just for the yo-yo company!"

Now that he's attained his own title, it's a wonder whether Marcus will look to make yo-yo a major part of his life, or if he'll look for work outside the yo-yo sphere.

Whether you're a yo-yo maker, yo-yo shop, player, or just a fan, Worlds is a major turning point for the year, and you can't help but look forward to the next one.