<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Quidditch World Cup Final 2022  - Wales Vs. Spain</strong></span></span><br/><strong>Location:</strong> Quidditch Trillenium Stadium, Dartmoor, Devon, England<br/><strong>Date &amp; Time:</strong> 18/08/22 - 9:00 PM<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong> Open to any and all spectators!<br/><strong>Content:</strong> Gathering crowds, opening displays, teams are ready. (Match will be resolved using D10 Quidditch on Discord.)<br/><strong>Post Rate:</strong> Feel free to post 1-3 times between GM posts. GM posts will be made every 5 days to progress the match.<br/></div><br/><div align="center">(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ab/69/3f/ab693f130020b671b5e88c1ef7672f7f.png)</div><br/>After many months of building anticipation, trials and challenges the finals are finally here. Though the route was undeniably gruelling for all teams involved it was Spain and Wales that ended up in the finals, facing off in front of a vast crowd of witches and wizards from all over the world. Many of them had been camped out for days on the moor, discussing the former rounds of the world cup and speculating about the upcoming final.<br/><br/>Throughout the tournament, Spain has set two of the widest-margin wins in professional Quidditch with a 580-60 defeat of Japan in the round of 16 and a 420-100 beating of Brazil in the round of 4 after some adversity against the U.S.A in the round of 8. Meanwhile, Wales have had moments of slight struggle but they have always caught the snitch and always done so relatively early, their seeker proving to be among the best in the tournament having even caught the snitch against Argentina, whose seeker earlier set a new world record for the fastest snitch capture on the world stage. Of course, with Wales having won the 2018 world cup in decisive fashion with their seeker having been on fire then too the team does have a slight betting advantage overall.<br/><br/>Predictions are tight, as are better odds, as nobody can quite tell who will win. While there is certainly tension between supports of the two sides there is no real violence at wizarding sports events, instead at worst a little creative chanting. The match itself being set to begin at night saw crowds arriving, queing and seating themselves throughout the day though more casual fans could still safely arrive in the late afternoon or early evening.<br/><br/>The stadium itself was a towering thing, a marvel of construction, housing thousands of fans as they cheered on their teams in advance. The highest of seats were somewhat vertigo-inducing things with some even seated at the very top of the arena, able to look down on the action. With the teams yet to arrive tension was at near-peak, waiting for the voice of the announcer to call in the first of the teams.<br/><br/>Suddenly, with even the latest of fans seated, as the clock struck nine P.M. on a slightly cloudy but mild and still summer night, there was a brief moment of silence before the announcer's voice projected through the arena. "Wizards and witches!" He boomed, a deep voice aided by wizardry that roused an immediate deafening cheer from the crowds. "We are gathered here to day at the climax of the Quidditch World Cup to watch the two greatest teams in the world face off!" He bellowed, earning yet more cheering.<br/><br/>"First, the pride of their nation and the reigning Quidditch World Champions! Please welcome to the pitch the Welsh National Team!" He announced, before a series of familiar sharp whistling sounds heralded a row of fireworks bursting up into the stadium in an almighty flash of glowing scarlet, the sparks showering into the eventual shape of a great welsh dragon larger than almost any magical beast truly grew. As it roared and fanned its wings before the crowd the seven members of the team were revealed, bursting from the dragon's mouth like shots. While almost all of those in attendance were certainly familiar with flight it was wholly different to watch those of such talent as they darted and moved with a swiftness that was hard to follow, particularly when simply showing off. The Welsh seeker, who many suggested had carried their team remarkably well, was particularly acrobatic as he purposefully dropped from his broom, keeling backward only to catch on to it again with just a single hand as he fell, hauling himself back up and continuing his flight.<br/><br/>After the crowd was allowed to make it clear just how much support for Wales was in the British arena there was a lull of just a few seconds before the Spanish team arrived, moving with more unison in confident, decisive lines that were still elegant. "Opposing them and looking to unthrone them, Please also give your support for the Spanish National Team!" As they drew the eyes of the crowd their end of the pitch was lit up golden, fireworks forming together this time into the form of a great golden bull large enough to challenge the Welsh dragon opposing it. Soon they were lined up, each team floating in silence.<br/><br/>The fireworks slowly disappeared, fading into dull sparks while the crowd noise settled somewhat, quiet but palpable tension filling the air around each and every spectator. All the eyes were drawn down, now, to the referee marching out onto the pitch with a heavy trunk levitating just behind her. After setting it down she eyed the crowd for a moment, gesturing her hands up to illicit another roar before she unstrapped the trunk, letting loose both bludgers and the golden snitch which was quickly impossible to follow for anyone in the arena. Finally, she picked up the quaffle, eyeing both teams. "I expect a good, clean game. We all want the best team to win," She encouraged, before at last tossing the heavy, scarlet quaffle into the air to begin the match.