posted Dec 12th, 2015 - The World Air Games 2015 are over, and the 4-way Open Class competition turned out as it transpired at the end of the very active Friday.

NMP PCH Hayabusa's new Tail Jeroen Nollet defeated Arizona Airspeed at his first direct outdoor confrontation, and both teams defined their starting point for the race towards the 4-way gold medals next year at the Mondial 2016: It is exactly the same.

Both teams were separated by one single point (273 - 272) by completed points in working time, and Hayabusa won by four points due to the penalty situation. Hayabusa is the only team with only 20-pointers and higher in the 10-round meet, and the Sun Path Products NSL News welcomes Jeroen Nollet to the 22-pointer club.

World Air Games 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		B,C,17,2	N,19,4	13,14,F	6,E,O,L	7,1,A	D,18,P,22	M,H,5,15	16,9,12	21,K,G,Q	11,20,3	Total	Avg
1	NMP PCH Hayabusa	BE	29	26	23	36	28	23(-1)	31(-2)	24(-1)	27	22	269(-4)	26.9
2	Arizona Airspeed	US	29	27	22(-1)	36	28	19(-3)	29(-2)	25	30	20(-1)	265(-7)	26.5
3	Black Cat	RU	23	23	21	30	21	21	26	23	27	19	234	23.4
4	Qatar Tigers	QA	22	21	17	28	23	19	27	19	21	17	214	21.4
5	Evolution	CA	21	22	17	28	20	15	24	20	22	16	205	20.5
6	Dubai Asaar Black	AE	21	20	17	20	20	17	23	19	20	17	194	19.4
7	FLY-IN	FR	24	20	18	29	20	17	19	19	22	-	188	20.9
8	Vision 99	UK	18	12	15	23	18	15	18	17	-	-	136	17.0
9	Rotor Out	AU	17	16	14	22	17	15	21	13	-	-	135	16.9
10	Ex3mo	IT	16	16	12	21	16	17	14	15	-	-	127	15.9
11	AtomiX YUU	DE	14	12	14	20	16	13	17	14	-	-	120	15.0

Black Cat took back the 3rd place with a 27-pointer in Round 9 on Saturday and won the bronze medals with the 19-pointer in Round 10, the only Russian score below 20 points in Dubai.

Evolution won the gold medals in 4-way VFS and matched the French 22-pointer in Round 9, which eliminated FLY-IN from the finals by one point. The Qatar Tigers would have finished in 4th place ahead of the Canadians. However, the Tigers' status as a guest team allowed Evolution to continue with Round 10.

Dubai Asaar Black were eligible for the World Air Games and made it to the semifinals (6th), where they were actually stopped in 6th place behind France. Craig Girard's team still continued with Round 10, as they were also competing with the Qatar Tigers in the Gulf Cup. Chris Talbert had more insights at the end of the exciting Friday action.

World Air Games 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Women		B,C,17,2	N,19,4	13,14,F	6,E,O,L	7,1,A	D,18,P,22	M,H,5,15	16,9,12	21,K,G,Q	11,20,3	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	25	21(-1)	22	25(-4)	23	19	29	21	25	17	227(-5)	22.7
2	French FLY-IN Girls	FR	25	22	21	30	21(-2)	20	20(-3)	22	25	18	224(-5)	22.4
3	Para. Montreal Fuzion	CA	16	19	16	26	18	12	21	16	14	13	171	17.1
4	NFTO	UK	18	17	15	20	18	15	17	14	19	12	165	16.5
5	Infra Red Band	RU	17	15	12	20	12	14	17	13	16	-	136	15.1
6	Dubai Asaar Ladies	AE	12	12	9	14	11	11	10	12	-	-	91	11.4

TALBERT WAG CORNER

Wow!!!! This was for sure the most exciting day of the FS competition! Let's start with the women's 4-way event. The U.S. team started the day three back from the French after 5 rounds, then lost another point in Round 6. Heading in to Round 7, time was running out, they knew there is still a round 10 draw that will make it difficult to gain more than a point or two.

That's when the U.S. Women's 4–way reminded themselves that you don't have to be great all the time, just be great when you HAVE to be. And they were great, when they HAD to be. Posting 29 points in Round 7 (M-H-5-15) and picking up 9 points to the French ladies' score of 23, busted to a 20.

After giving back 1 point in Round 8 the GKF4 and French ladies tied in Round 9 with 25 points. Tonight the U.S. women's team goes to bed with a 4-point lead headed to Round 10. Hopefully they manage to get some sleep!

World Air Games 2015			Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		20,13,4	F,L,B,G,P	22,D,7	14,O,5	9,C,J,H	19,K,3	Q,17,E,A	15,21,18	12,16,1	8,11,2	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights	US	22	33	19	19	18	22	21	22	29	17	222	22.2
2	Tanay	RU	17	26	17	14	19	21	17	17	24	13	185	18.5
3	France Weembi	FR	16	23	13	15	16	20	17	17	22	13	172	17.2
4	Dubai Asaar 8	AE	14	17	13	14	15	16	16	16	15	11	147	14.7
5	Qatar Falcons	QA	13	16	14	10	13	16	15	14	16	11	138	13.8
6	Microclim8	UK	12	15	11	11	13	16	11	12	15	-	116	12.9
7	8@work	NL	1	6	6	4	5	6	5	6	-	-	39	4.9

TALBERT WAG CORNER

In 4–way open the U.S. team had troubles of their own. Starting the day tied with the Belgians, three busts cost them 4 points in Round 6, with two busts costing them as many points in round 7.

In true Airspeed fashion they re-grouped, picked up a point in Round 8 and took a page from the GKF4 playbook by winning Round 9 (21-G-K-Q) by three points.

So the U.S. 4–way team will go to bed down two points to the current world champions and know they have some work to do tomorrow to make up the difference on a tough round 10 (11-20-3).

Tomorrow will be a big day for someone. Either NMP Pch HayaBusa will show the world why they are the reigning world champions, or Arizona Airspeed will find two, or dare I say three points, on a jump that isn't the best draw for such a large swing.

World Air Games 2015			Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Round 6	Round 7	Round 8	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way VFS		6,J,2	17,D,C,1	E,8,7	F,14,12	K,M,10,B	16,11,15	13,3,9	4,A,I,5	Total	Avg
1	Evolution	CA	19	11	31	18	11	15	18	16	139	17.4
2	Transfert	FR	18	12	28	12	13	12	15	12	122	15.3
3	Element	BE	15	8	22	14	9	11	14	9	102	12.8
4	Amudy	AE	11	7	24	12	5	9	13	5	86	10.8
5	Bad Lieutenants	UK	11	8	15	10	4	7	9	-	64	9.1

TALBERT WAG CORNER

I also have to mention the dedication of the Canadian team who are doing both 4–way open and VFS.

And they are doing well in both sitting in first in VFS and fifth in 4–way open. They will certainly be a team to watch come 2016 in Chicago!

In 8–way the U.S. team continues to dominate the pack, despite 8 points in busts through 7 rounds.

Although not their best work, the Golden Knights will take this experience and learn from it for the showdown in Chicago next year.

And that is all from Dubai. It was one hell of an exciting day and this guy is headed to bed! Be excellent to each other. C – Tal, out.