"One point! 10.3 kg! How about you two? Wow, you did pretty well too! Your mouth is grinning ear to ear!" Zhang Yang joked casually.
"I caught 63 fish in the second round, should be one point too! Zhao also did mixed fishing for one point!" Meng Fan reported his results with a smile.
Zhao Bingguang took out some cigarettes to share, lit one himself, and said, "I got lucky thanks to you earlier! I didn't get it at first, but after observing your fishing techniques and imitating them, I started catching fish. The second half was pretty good, caught 8.5 kg, should be one point too!"
"So, it seems like the three of us might sweep the top three spots?"
Zhang Yang's eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing the results from the other two.
As mentioned earlier, the fishing competition uses the small-point system.
Taking today's competition as an example, each bank is divided into a group with twenty people, ranked from one point to twenty. After two rounds, the scores are added and ranked again.
Zhang Yang is guaranteed two rounds with one point each, a total of two points with an overwhelming performance, plus 131 targeted fish caught. According to the rules, today's champion is already secured.
Old Zhao, drawn 15th place in the first round, was in the same south bank group as Zhang Yang's 8th place. Thus, Zhao's targeted fish score is two points, mixed fishing one point, totaling three points.
In contrast, Meng Fan, whose draw wasn't great, had slightly better luck.
He drew a mixed category in the first round, skillfully avoiding Zhang Yang the powerhouse, for one point, and another point for targeted fish in the second round.
Total score the same as Zhang Yang, also two points, but with worse results in targeted fish, ranking second by sorting rules.
If no one else has similar scores, today's competition results will be Zhang Yang first, Meng Fan second, Zhao Bingguang third!
Just like the joke before the competition, sweeping the top three.
"Haha, my first time competing and I scored! I'm so excited now! Brother Yang, Brother Zhao, lunch is on me, let's find a place to celebrate!" Meng Fan said excitedly.
Zhang Yang nodded: "Alright, after the award ceremony, let's find a place to celebrate!"
…
Temporary referee's office.
Results from both rounds are out, four or five staff members are busy entering the scores.
Before long, the ranking results were out, connected to the printer, and soon two and a half pages of result forms were printed.
"Results are out!"
Referee Lao Yang walked out of the room with the printed forms, shouted, and then taped the results on the empty spot in front of the boardroom.
Upon hearing the results were out, everyone waiting for the award ceremony rushed forward.
At the top of the first page of the result forms, Zhang Yang, with one point for targeted fish and one point for mixed fishing, clinched today's champion with his double one-point score.
Just as recently guessed, Meng Fan also had double one-point scores, placing second due to small-point disadvantage, and Zhao Bingguang with a total score of three points, placed third.
Fourth place Ding Wen, total score five points, and fifth place, Chen Xueqiang with a total score of 6.5 points.
In this fishing competition, besides registration souvenirs, only the top five received cash rewards, with fishing gear prizes for sixth to fifteenth. Zhang Yang chuckled, feeling quite pleased.
At this time, after looking at the results, Meng Fan pointed to Chen Xueqiang in fifth place and asked, "Brother Yang, what does this 6.5 points mean? Looking at the single item, targeted fish scored 3.5 points? This isn't a math exam, where does the 0.5 point come from?"
Zhang Yang grinned and explained, "There is indeed a 0.5 point; it's because of a tie!
For example, if both are tied for third place, their scores are three plus four equals seven, divided by two, and the final result is three and a half points.
In such a competition with only two rounds, the probability of tie scores is smaller, but with four rounds or more, there are many scores with a 0.5 point!"
"Oh, so that's how it is!" Meng Fan nodded, his confusion relieved.
Upon hearing Zhang Yang's professional explanation, Old Zhao muttered with surprise, "Isn't this your first competition? How do you know these rules! I didn't even notice!"
Zhang Yang scratched his head and smiled: "Haha, it's in the procedural details! It's clause three in the supplementary rules! I researched them while bored!"
This made Old Zhao completely speechless.
To Zhao Bingguang, if fishing requires talent, Zhang Yang's talent is undoubtedly monstrous, studying even the supplementary rules, crazy!
What Old Zhao didn't know was that these competition rules, after experiencing many contests, had already become instinct, deeply ingrained in Zhang Yang's mind.
"All participating anglers, please listen! Everyone please proceed to the temporary podium! Get ready for the award ceremony!"
The loudspeaker suddenly sounded, and people who had finished checking the results quickly headed toward the temporary podium.
"Let's go, time to collect the money!" Zhao Bingguang called out, and the three walked side by side toward the podium.
At this time, Wang Yan, who had been quietly filming behind Zhang Yang, softly reminded, "Xiao Zhang, should we bring the product packaging on stage? It's a great chance for advertising!"
With Wang Yan's reminder, Zhang Yang smacked his forehead: "Shoot, I almost forgot this!
Yes, yes, bring the Yellowface packaging. With us sweeping the top three, make sure all the product packages are displayed during the photo-taking!"
The three of them had already packed all their gear in the car. With this reminder, they quickly turned back to the car to retrieve the Yellowface packaging.
On the podium, the sponsoring spokesman Sun Xiufeng grabbed a microphone and started warming up the event.
"Thanks to all anglers for taking the time out of your busy schedules to participate in our Marukyu Cup leisure fishing competition! On behalf of the Tianjin Maruji Corporation Branch, thank you for the support!
The results are out, and it's fair to say today's competition was highly competitive, with two anglers scoring double one-points!
Next, we'll start from the fifteenth place for awards, anglers called please come to the stage for your awards! Fifteenth place, Zhou Long…"
Apart from the true cash rewards for the top five, sixth to fifteenth place are awarded various fishing gear, bobbers, fishing rods, line, imported Marukyu bait, etc., although not as tangible as cash, still quite a gain.
Anglers whose names were called went on stage and received their respective awards, creating a rather festive atmosphere during the ceremony.
Before long, the anglers receiving physical prizes were done with the awards.
Sun Xiufeng cleared his throat: "Awards for fifteenth to sixth place are done, now onto the main event, the top five anglers will receive cash prizes! Fifth place, Chen Xueqiang, five hundred, plus a certificate!"
Forum influencer Chen Xiaodao boldly went on stage and accepted his envelope of prize money; five hundred yuan was quite substantial at this point in time.
Next was fourth place Ding Wen, one thousand plus a certificate.
Third place Zhao Bingguang, two thousand plus a certificate and a trophy.
Second place Meng Fan, four thousand plus a certificate and a trophy.
First place Zhang Yang, ten thousand! Plus a certificate and a trophy!
When the champion Zhang Yang took the stage last, the envelope with a thick wad of cash was handed to him, feeling solid and substantial.
After the award ceremony, Sun Xiufeng didn't let Zhang Yang get off the stage, instead-handed him the microphone: "Now, let's have our champion angler Zhang Yang say a few words!"
Zhang Yang, no stranger to such award speeches due to past experiences, took the microphone without any nerves.
"Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Yang!
I'm very honored to participate in today's fishing competition and win the championship prize!
Firstly, I want to thank the organizers and sponsors for this event, together with all the staff working behind the scenes!
Fishing is a beautiful thing, and to enjoy fishing while winning a prize is even better!
Today, I was lucky to receive this fortune, and tomorrow, I hope this fortune will also favor everyone!
Fishing is a gentle pursuit for men, and I hope that, like me, everyone can keep this hobby going! Enjoy fishing, live healthily!
Thank you, everyone!"
With the words that fishing is a gentle pursuit for men, the passion of anglers below the stage was thoroughly ignited.