[the phantom]

As we so often do, we’ll begin by showing how many points there were to be gained with the perfect alignment.

The Perfect Team
GK TarAtanamir (Armen)- 6
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel) C- 10
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 7
DF *Gwaihir (MMts)- 8
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
MF Nessa (RealV)- 6
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 8
MF Mahtan (Tirion)- 8
FW *Arien (Valimar)- 8
FW Tuor (Gondolin)- 8
FW *Maeglin (Gondolin)- 7
TOTAL = 94

And here is how everyone fared. Let me know if there’s a mistake on any of these.

Lynch Mob
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 2
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 10
DF Ingwion (RealV)- 4
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- 4
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 3
MF TarAldarion (Sea)- 0
FW *Glorfindel (Eriador)- 5
FW Hurin (Hithlum)- 0
FW *Miriel (RealVal) C- 3
TOTAL = 38

Atashi no Negai
GK Hyarmendacil (Sea)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 10
DF TarTelperien (Armen)- 2
DF *Ulmo (Sea)- 2
MF TarMíriel (Armen)- 3
MF *Elros (Armen)- 5
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)- 5
FW Finrod (Narg)- 7
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW *Miriel (RealV) C- 3
TOTAL = 48

We Didn't Start the Fire
GK *Elrond (Eriador) C- 4
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *Tilion (RealV)- 7
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 7
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
MF Boromir II (Anduin)- 4
MF Angrod (ACBel)- 1
MF *Elros (Armen)- 5
FW TarMinastir (Sea)- 4
FW Eldacar (Gondor)- 4
FW Orome (RealV)- 4
TOTAL = 54

The Mooncrazed Remixed
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 2
DF Balrog #5 (Hithlum)- 2
DF Aragorn (Eriador)- 2
DF Balrog #4 (ACBel)- 10
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 3
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 8
MF Arveleg (Eriador)- 0
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- 4
MF NerWight (TIG)- 0
FW *Curufin (FCVal) C- 4
TOTAL = 42

Noggportunistics
GK Amroth (Anduin)- 2
DF Rochallor (ACBel)- 3
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *Ulmo (Sea)- 2
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
MF NogWight (Eriador)- 0
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 8
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 3
FW Aredhel (Tirion)- 4
FW *Arien (Valimar) C- 8
FW *Miriel (RealVal)- 3
TOTAL = 51

Cupkicks
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG) C- 2
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 7
DF Aragorn (Eriador)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
MF NogWight (Eriador)- 0
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)- 5
MF NerWight (TIG)- 0
FW Finrod (Narg)- 7
FW Aredhel (Tirion)- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 43

Eleven Pillars of Wisdom
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Amras (Tirion)- -1
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 2
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 7
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- 4
MF Morwen (Hithlum)- -1
MF Nessa (RealV)- 6
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)- 5
FW Thuringwethil (TIG)- -1
FW *Curufin (FCVal) C- 4
TOTAL = 33

Unnamed Horror
GK *Elrond (Eriador)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 7
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Uinen (Sea)- 2
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 3
MF NerWight (TIG)- 0
MF Nienor (Narg)- 0
FW *Curufin (FC Val) C- 4
FW ArPharazon (Armen)- 4
FW Nerdanel (RealV)- 0
TOTAL = 38

Salt and Smoke
GK TarAtanamir (Armen)- 6
DF Uinen (Sea)- 2
DF GaladriWight (TIG)- 2
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)- 2
DF *Varda (Imladris)- -1
MF TarMíriel (Armen)- 3
MF NogWight (Eriador)- 0
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)- 5
FW *Glaurung (Narg)- 4
FW *Scatha (Wilder)- 4
FW *Arien (Valimar) C- 8
TOTAL = 43

FC Monkey Stink
GK Galadriel (DwUnt)- 2
DF Nienna (RealV)- 4
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)- 2
DF Arwen (Eriador)- 2
DF Alatar (BDur)- 0
MF *Elwe (Doriath)- 5
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador) C- 5
MF Cirdan (Havens)- 3
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- 4
FW *Arien (Valimar)- 8
FW *Miriel (RealV)- 3
TOTAL = 43

Wilwa's Winners
GK Marach (ACBel)- 4
DF Celeborn (Anduin)- 2
DF Uinen (Sea)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
MF Cirdan (Havens)- 3
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 3
MF Idril (Gondolin)- 3
FW *Miriel (RealV) C- 3
FW *Smaug (Erebor)- 4
FW Ar Pharazon (Armen)- 4
TOTAL = 41

The Uncloakables
GK Marach (ACBel)- 4
DF *Morgoth (Angband)- 8
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Aragorn (Eriador) C- 2
DF Luthien (InterBel)- 0
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 5
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 8
MF Argon (FCVal)- 4
FW *Gothmog (Angfaug)- 3
FW *Miriel (RealV)- 3
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 45

Round 3 Points
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 54
Noggportunistics- 51
Atashi no Negai- 48
The Uncloakables- 45
Salt and Smoke- 43
FC Monkey Stink- 43
Cupkicks- 43
Mooncrazed Remixed- 42
Wilwa’s Winners- 41
Unnamed Horror- 38
Lynch Mob- 38
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 33

Point Standings After 3rd Round
Atashi no Negai- 160
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 146
Noggportunistics- 137
Lynch Mob- 135
Mooncrazed Remixed- 130
The Uncloakables- 123
Cupkicks- 119
Unnamed Horror- 113
Wilwa’s Winners- 113
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 109
FC Monkey Stink- 108
Salt and Smoke- 102

Ah, but don’t forget about those group predictions you all made. Before we award the points, there are a few things worth pointing out in the predictions.
Everyone called Real Valinor and Eriador advancing.
Only one person didn't call TIG advancing.
Only two people didn't call Valimar, Armenelos, AC Beleriand, Barad-Dur, or FC Valinor.
Only Inzil, Boro, and Wilwa had Gondolin advancing.
Only Morm, Boro, and Wilwa had Misty Mts advancing.
Only Boro and Morm got Group E correct.
Only Legate and Nog got Group H correct.
Only Legate got Group F correct.
Legate had the most group-winners correct, with 7 of 8.
Nog got the most total points.

27 pts- Nog
25 pts- Legate & Wilwa
21 pts- Nilp & Shasta
20 pts- Gwath
19 pts- Galadriel
18 pts- Nerwen & Morm & Boro
16 pts- Sally
4 pts- Inzil

Which means the points standings are…

Total Point Standings Before Playoffs
Atashi no Negai- 181
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 164
Noggportunistics- 164
Lynch Mob- 155
Mooncrazed Remixed- 151
Wilwa’s Winners- 138
Cupkicks- 135
Unnamed Horror- 132
The Uncloakables- 127
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 127
Salt and Smoke- 127
FC Monkey Stink- 126

Our biggest positive movers this round—Wilwa leaped up four spots, and Nog moved up two spots. And if everything was added correctly, it seems there is a huge pile-up at the back. And to see how close it is, if any of them had 12 more points they’d be in the top half of the standings instead of in the rear.

And speaking of being close, it seems Nilp is the only one not interested in it. He has grown his lead to 17 points. But of course that’s not insurmountable by any means…