NEWSFLASH: This tournament, after so long of being repeatedly declared not dead, has an important announcement related to it to be made:

...its still not dead.

HEAT F FINAL
BALDUR GAMMA vs. RIPPER

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Booth 1, left hand side: Alex Holt
Booth 2, right hand side: John Findlay

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So, in the almost immortal words of Jonathan Pearce, our last seat at the great table is about to be filled...and its Baldur whos the quicker out of the start, coming out towards Ripper, who turns slightly before coming to meet the advancing Baldur, and the two machines collide near the pit, scoop to scoop. Baldur seems to have the initial advantage though, raising the front slightly and lifting Rippers weapon off the ground, the four wheels giving it traction as it begins to edge Ripper back...but the flipper activates, knocking Baldur upwards slightly as it catches the top of the scoop, and allowing Ripper to get the two wheels on the floor fully and begin to push back...and as Baldur lands, it is driven up and into the gap between the raised flipper and the base of Ripper, leaving Baldur stuck underneath its opponents weapon! John tries to use this to his advantage, moving Ripper forward in an arc to get Baldur lined up for the pit, but Alex struggles and struggles with the scoop, and the rear wheels get traction on the floor, pulling his machine away from the grasp of Ripper, and Baldur powers back in as the flipper returns, getting the scoop underneath the front edge of the weapon and beginning to push Ripper towards the other side of the arena, building up ramming speed as it moves onwards...
FLIP! Suddenly, the flipper goes up, and catches the top of Baldurs scoop again, this time flipping it up in a somersault to land on its back! As the gas vents from the flipper though, Baldur turns to come back in on the attack, but Ripper is coming back in as well, and collides with Baldur side on, the corner of the scoop gouging into the Kevlar armouring of Baldur and ripping it a little. Baldur has the superior power though, reversing back towards the left hand side wall and dragging Ripper with it, and the flipper fires again, ripping the outer armour fabric a little more as it breaks free of its opponent, and Baldur is free to turn around and come back in on the attack. Ripper turns to face it, but isnt quick enough to turn, and Baldur slams into the front corner of its opponent, knocking both robots towards the southern end of the arena somewhat...but Baldurs scoop rides up onto Rippers front, and the yellow and green flipper is able to push back! Baldur gets traction on the arena floor from the back tyres, and tries to reverse off the scoop, but the rear bar catches on the wall and it can go no further...Alex is holding his controls in the air, as it would seem his earlier dominance of the match has been reversed, frantically trying to get Baldur away, but the arena wall blocks him to one side, and the smoke and tyres of the pit to the other...Ripper comes in again, getting the scoop underneath the side of Baldur, and trying to steer it towards the pit. Baldurs two left side wheels try to drag it off the scoop, keeping it backed against the wall, and Alex almost manages to drive Baldur off...
FLIP! Ripper suddenly fires the front weapon, and Baldur is thrown up into the air, hitting the top of the left hand wall as it comes down...for a moment looking as if it might fall back into the arena, but Ripper comes forwards, and John rams Baldur with his machines raised weapon, sending it tumbling down against the audience screening, which flexes somewhat as the spotlights focus on the out of arena, defeated Baldur, while Ripper backs away and spins in celebration at being the final robot in the grand finale.

CEASE

Baldur and Ripper - two good robots, but only one can win, and that is John Findlays Ripper!

And so, our six grand finalists in the first Chevron Championship are:

Darkestar
Macduff The Third
Son Of Ripper Hex
Door Stops
Exertion
Ripper

Two rammers, two flippers, a pair of wedges and a spinner. Hmm.

Draw up next post