Spoilers for Thursday 1st March 2018

[Martin Hurst]

Philip Aston v Zarte Siempre!

Even more exciting than a snow day at work!

Very interested to see what happens if it goes to a crucial.....

[Dan Byrom]

Can't wait!

Both these two very likely to be the top two in the whole series so very unfortunate that they have to come against each other before the finals!

[Tom S]

For Philip's sake I hope he advances, even if he does lose today....

[Tom S]

Philip Aston v Zarte Siempre!

Even more exciting than a snow day at work!

Very interested to see what happens if it goes to a crucial.....

If only there was a "LIKE" function in here...

[George Pryn]

Wait what why is Zarte there

[George Pryn]

Exciting

[Elliott Mellor]

Wait what why is Zarte there

Because he filmed and it's now being transmitted.

[George Pryn]

Wait what why is Zarte there

Because he filmed and it's now being transmitted.

Edgy

[George Pryn]

Never seen so many vowels

[Noel Mc]

2nd numbers - (75-(10-2)/8)x6-25

[Noel Mc]

Zarte in R8

[George Pryn]

Halftime for R11?

Edit: Nope

[Noel Mc]

Cheeky wee 9 to finish the letters

[Noel Mc]

Rachel is some pup

[George Pryn]

1000 doesn't look too unreasonable right now

[Bradley Horrocks]

Very well played both, it was just Zarte's superior numbers which made the difference in the end. Let's hope for a rematch, with a crucial too this time (if that's not being too picky )

[Zarte Siempre]

Let's hope for a rematch, with a crucial too

My heart couldn't take THIS game, fuck off with your crucials

[Ryan Lam]

Well done Zarte and your reappearance after five years...it's a shame Philip's run had to end nearly the same way as the former did five years ago...Philip even said he felt like crying after the show which I pity and feel for him...but hey cheer up, let's hope you qualify for the finals and I really seriously hope you do so, you're tied with Chris Thorn in terms of points and have less wins than him so that means something...you're definitely an inspiration to me and I believe a lot of people here on the Forum and on Apterous. Your run may have come to an end on the show but it certainly hasn't in my eyes.

Best of luck Zarte, hope you can get to an Octochamp without being stopped in your tracks this time!

[Zarte Siempre]

Well done Zarte and your reappearance after five years...it's a shame Philip's run had to end nearly the same way as the former did five years ago...Philip even said he felt like crying after the show which I pity and feel for him...but hey cheer up, let's hope you qualify for the finals and I really seriously hope you do so, you're tied with Chris Thorn in terms of points and have less wins than him so that means something...you're definitely an inspiration to me and I believe a lot of people here on the Forum and on Apterous. Your run may have come to an end on the show but it certainly hasn't in my eyes.

Very, very well said Ryan - echo that sentiment entirely.

[Tom S]

That was definitely the best prelim game I have watched live. Commiserations to Philip who kept in contention for the majority of the game and potentially could have made it to the 900 club had he not faced Zarte, who also put in a cracking performance with 13 maxes. I also echo Ryan's sentiment in the fact that he is worthy of a final spot....

[Jojo Apollo]

Wowzers! What a game. Superb stuff, Zarte good to see you given another chance after the Dylan match from last time. Well done Philip, hopefully it should be enough to make the quarters, if not you definitely deserve another go in a future series.

Are the pairings totally random or is there a bit of sadism going on?

It should be seeded according to auditions. You want to see the best play the best in the final stages as in tennis, snooker etc makes it more exciting.

[Gevin Chapwell]

Excellent game all round. As others have said, Philip was very unlucky to meet Zarte. Well, Zarte was unlucky he had to face Philip as he was to face Dylan before but this time he came through.

What most people don't know is that as Dylan didn't win his series, he's also been allowed back and is due to be Zarte's sixth opponent, assuming he keeps winning...

Oh and Tom S mode firmly on - 113 from me today. One of my better games. Just lost to Zarte on SAUTEING.

[Ian Birdman]

Liquid countdown...

[Elliott Mellor]

Well done Zarte and your reappearance after five years...it's a shame Philip's run had to end nearly the same way as the former did five years ago...Philip even said he felt like crying after the show which I pity and feel for him...but hey cheer up, let's hope you qualify for the finals and I really seriously hope you do so, you're tied with Chris Thorn in terms of points and have less wins than him so that means something...you're definitely an inspiration to me and I believe a lot of people here on the Forum and on Apterous. Your run may have come to an end on the show but it certainly hasn't in my eyes.

Very, very well said Ryan - echo that sentiment entirely.

Echo this entirely - Philip definitely deserved to win 8 with his dedication and it's a great shame he had to face you in the preliminaries. I thought it was very gracious of you to say what you did at the end - truly a modest player and I hope you, as well as Philip, are both in the finals.

The game today might be the best game I've watched in terms of standard or certainly up there - MALEFIT in particular was an excellent spot and beat me hands down.

[Phil H]

Superb stuff. An argument against prioritising wins over points?

[Phil H]

My heart couldn't take THIS game, fuck off with your crucials

You looked like you were fairly panicking

[Gevin Chapwell]

1000 doesn't look too unreasonable right now

Missed it by 879.

[Zarte Siempre]

Zarte in R8

You suggesting you want to see me in a leotard, Noel - I've told you before, at least buy me dinner first...

[Zarte Siempre]

My heart couldn't take THIS game, fuck off with your crucials

You looked like you were fairly panicking

I was trying to be as chilled as humanly possible, but my heartbeat tends to give the game away lol

[Brett Davids]

As many have stated, losing to Zarte Siempre makes Philip Aston the best player to not become an Octochamp since, well, Zarte Siempre.

[Ian Birdman]

Yep a quite brilliant game.

Thought both players came across really well and it would be a travesty if Phil wasn't in the finals.

Such a brutal draw...

[Gevin Chapwell]

Tried to blag that numbers on the spot though, right?

[Elliott Mellor]

Tried to blag that numbers on the spot though, right?

Haha, the 419 one? That was quite funny tbh. "so..you..no..you take the ummmm 75 and..."

[Zarte Siempre]

I dunno who's doing the Wiki updates atm, but you're making my page far too serious! Put some more nonsense in!