Only twice in DCI's history, in 1992 and 2004, did as many as nine corps break 90.00 at the World Championship Finals. That could easily happen again this year. There has never been as many as 10 corps that have passed 90 points in the Finals.
While reading the following, please keep in mind that the scores of the two Effect captions are counted for full value, but each of the scores of the three Visual and three Music captions are first divided in half, with each of those half scores then added for the Total Visual and Total Music scores.
View a complete recap of scores from this event.
Carolina Crown (1st-98.25) moved ahead of Blue Devils largely on its Percussion score increasing 0.70 from Prelims. The Percussion score has for weeks dictated the ultimate fate of the corps. In moving up from 7th in Prelims to 4th in Semifinals, Crown's Percussion score went from being 1.00 under BD's line and 1.10 under Cadets' ensemble, (worth a total of 0.50 and 0.55 difference in the total Percussion scores, respectively), to just 0.40 under BD's line and 0.50 under Cadets' ensemble, (worth a total of 0.20 and 0.25 difference in the total Percussion scores, respectively). However, right now, it appears it's that dramatic closing of the gap with BD's Percussion score that's the major news, most responsible for the earthquake felt in the stadium when the final score was announced. It's been years since a 4th-place finish in a caption was such big news.
The next lowest caption placement for the corps was 3rd in Visual Analysis, the same as in Prelims. Color Guard once again took 2nd to BD (by only 0.20, remember to divide that in half) and both Effect captions took 1st. (Visual Effect went up from 2nd in Prelims.) Visual Proficiency, Brass and Music Analysis all stayed in 1st from Prelims, with Brass opening up a lead over Blue Devils of 0.50 from 0.20 in Prelims, which accounted for another 0.15 gain in the total spread.
Blue Devils (2nd-97.60) was 1st only in Visual Analysis and Color Guard; two of the three captions the corps won in Prelims. Visual Effect fell from 1st (up by 0.10) to 2nd (down by 0.15). Brass and Percussion also finished in 2nd, as both captions had placed in Prelims. Music Effect and Music Analysis both remained in 3rd, and Visual Proficiency dropped from 2nd to 3rd.
The Cadets (3rd-96.85) took 1st in Percussion, 2nd in Music Effect and Music Analysis, 3rd in Visual Effect and Brass, 4th in Visual Proficiency and Visual Analysis, and 5th in Color Guard. Combined Visual (Proficiency, Analysis and Color Guard) fell to 0.55 under Santa Clara Vanguard after being 0.25 below in Prelims. Meanwhile, the gap between the two corps shrank from 0.60 to 0.35.
Santa Clara Vanguard (4th-96.50) was 2nd in Visual Proficiency and Visual Analysis, 3rd in Visual Effect, Color Guard, Music Analysis and Percussion, and 4th in Music Effect and Brass. All placements were the same as in Prelims, except for Visual Proficiency and Music Analysis, which each moved up one spot.
Phantom Regiment (5th tie-93.05) was 4th in Color Guard, 6th in Brass and Music Analysis and 5th in the four captions other than Percussion, where the corps placed 10th.
Bluecoats (5th tie-93.05) was 5th in Music Effect and all three of the Music captions, 6th in Visual Effect and Visual Proficiency, and 8th in Visual Analysis and Color Guard.
The Cavaliers (7th-91.25) was 6th in Percussion, 7th in Visual Effect, Visual Proficiency, Visual Analysis and Music Analysis, 8th in Music Effect and 9th in Color Guard and Brass. Interestingly, the corps broke the Prelims tie with Madison Scouts by scoring 0.25 higher than Madison in each of the three major combined captions; General Effect, Visual and Music.
Madison Scouts (8th-90.50) took 7th in Music Effect, Brass and Percussion, 8th in Visual Proficiency and Visual Analysis, 9th in Music Analysis and 10th in Visual Effect and Color Guard.
Boston Crusaders (9th-90.00) placed 6th in Color Guard, 8th in Visual Effect, Brass and Music Analysis, 9th in Visual Proficiency and Percussion, and 10th in Music Effect and Visual Analysis.
Blue Knights (10th-89.35) took 7th in Color Guard, 9th in both Effect captions and Visual Analysis, 10th in Visual Proficiency and Music Analysis, and 11th in Brass and Percussion. 0.60 down to Boston Crusaders in total Music (Brass, Music Analysis and Percussion combined) is most of what's keeping the corps from breaking 90.00.
Spirit of Atlanta (11th-86.40) finished 10th in Brass, 11th in Music Effect, Visual Proficiency and Visual Analysis, 12th in Visual Effect and Music Analysis, and 13th in Color Guard and Percussion. The corps' Brass score was 0.70 over that of Troopers, (responsible for 0.35 of the final score). If Spirit's Brass score was the same as that for Troopers, the two corps would have tied for 12th. (Conversely, if Troopers' Brass score was 0.70 higher, the two corps would have tied for 11th and Blue Stars would be sitting in 13th place, out of the Finals by one spot for the second consecutive year.)
Blue Stars (12th-86.20) was 8th in Percussion, with that caption's 0.80 advantage over Troopers (responsible for 0.40 of the final score) keeping the corps in Finals. Music Analysis was 16th. Music Effect was 13th and the other five captions placed 12th.
The following corps will not be advancing into Finals.
Troopers (13th-86.05) finished 12th in both Effect captions, 13th in Brass, 14th in Visual Analysis, Music Analysis and Percussion, and 15th in Visual Proficiency and Color Guard.
Crossmen (14th-84.85) was 11th in Color Guard, 12th in Music Effect, 13th in Brass and Music Analysis, 14th in Music Effect, Visual Proficiency and Percussion, and 15th in Visual Analysis.
Colts (15th-82.45) placed 14th in Visual Analysis, 15th in Visual Effect, Visual Proficiency and Color Guard, 16th in Brass and Percussion, 17th in Music Effect and 18th in Music Analysis.
Pacific Crest (16th-82.30) was 13th in Music Analysis, 15th in Music Effect and Brass, 16th in Visual Effect, Visual Proficiency and Color Guard, 17th in Percussion and 18th in Visual Analysis.
Oregon Crusaders (17th-81.05) was 15th in Music Analysis and Percussion, 16th in Music Effect, 17th in Visual Proficiency, Visual Analysis and Brass, and 18th in Visual Effect and Color Guard.
Mandarins (18th-79.75) took 16th in Visual Analysis, 17th in both Effect captions, 18th in Brass and Percussion, 19th in Visual Proficiency, 21st in Music Analysis and 22nd in Color Guard.
The Academy (19th-78.20) moved up two placements, taking 17th in Color Guard, 19th in Visual Effect and Music Analysis, 20th in Music Effect, Visual Analysis and Percussion, and 21st in Visual Proficiency and Brass.
Blue Devils B (20th-77.95) was 19th in Visual Effect, Brass and Percussion, 23rd in Color Guard, and 20th in the other four captions.
Vanguard Cadets (21st-77.70) dropped two placements due to a 0.50 penalty, taking 17th in Music Analysis, 18th in Visual Proficiency, 19th in Music Effect and Color Guard, 20th in Visual Effect and Brass and 21st in Visual Analysis and Percussion. Without that penalty, the corps would have stayed in front of Blue Devils B and would have tied for 19th with The Academy.
Jersey Surf (22nd-75.40) was 23rd in Visual Proficiency, 24th in Color Guard, and 22nd in the remaining six captions.
Genesis (23rd-74.65) was 21st in Color Guard, 22nd in Visual Proficiency and 23rd in the six other captions.
Spartans (24th-72.85) was 20th in Color Guard, 24th in Visual Proficiency, Visual Analysis and Percussion, and 25th in the remaining three captions.
Music City (25th-72.75) was 24th in both Effect Captions, Brass and Music Analysis, and 25th in the other four captions.
View a complete recap of scores from the 2013 World Championships Semifinals.