Galactic Cup

Galactic Cup is one of the largest sporting events in the galaxy. The winner is crowned as the champion of jetball. The event is hosted by the Galactic Jetball Federation.



History
The first Galactic Cup was held in 44 BBY to determine the best planetary team in the galaxy. In fact, the title planetary team is a bit misleading, for individual systems usually compete as one team. This is not always the case, however, as Kashyyyk and Trandosha have seperate jetball teams, just to name one example. The sport grew in popularity because, unlike Gravball (which only accepted humanoids]], jetball welcomed all species, using the logic that any particular advantage would be weighed downed by a set of disadvantages. For example, while nimble winged species like the Geonosians and Toydarians were quick the fastest competitotrs, their size was below average. Even the beastly Hutts were allowed to compete (with limited success, however). The widespread acceptance made the sport's premiere event extremely popular, as citizens of all systems felt their teams had a fighting shot at winning.

The first tournament featured 64 teams coming to Coruscant, as thousands tried to qualify. Eventually, Corellia was victorious, defeating Alderaan 4-2. Every 4 years, a new tournament would be held on a different location, with a few exception do to outside interuptions.

Early cups were dominated by a trio of teams: Corellia, Mon Calamari and Alderaan. These three teams won the first 10 cups. The patern was broken when the suprising squad from the Lintttq System, containing Mogdopia and Catopia, won the event.

The Challenges of the Clone Wars
The Cup would be test by the Clone Wars, the first of a series of external interferences. Going against the will of the Republic, the Galactic Jetball Federation would allow Seperatist worlds to compete in all of their events, including the Galactic Cup. As a compromise, restrictions were enforced, including a limit on the number of times a Republic team could visit a Seperatist team. However, most of the Confederate worlds would chose not to play, with Trandosha and Nemoidia as notable exceptions.

The Imperial Restrictions
As trying as the Clone Wars were, no one in jetball was prepared to face Palpatine's New Order. Starting in 19 BBY, all non-humans were forbidden from competing on human clubs or in the entire Core Jetball Association. This seriously interfered with the Galactic Cup, as the removal of alien species severely damaged the competiveness of the competition. In 16 BBY, with the time of the Cup aproaching, the Emperor relented and a deal was struck. The compromise would allow a maximum of 12 non-human planetary teams would be allowed to play in the Cup, with the GJF Planetary Ranking determining who these teams would be. (Other details of the compromise included lifting the non-human vs. human club rule in the Mid and Outer Rims). The Federation had defied the Empire from it's birth in allowing non-human worlds to keep their teams and keep competing and the new concessions lifted the bars these teams had. Even greater defiance would be shown in the coming Galactic Cups, as the non-human worlds of Lintttq and Mon Calamari would win the events, along with top 4 finishes from Shiiiiil, Trandosha and Kashyyyk.

With the advent of the Galactic Civil War in 2 BBY, Emperor Palpatine declared that no world supporting the Rebel Alliance would be permitted to participate in any GJF event. Despite their growing sickness of Palpatine's meddling, the Federation reluctantly accepted the rule. When 0 BBY came along, jetball officials were hoping the growing conflict would be subdued to avoid a disaster for the sport. While the Clone Wars did, in some ways, get in the way of the Cups, there was not an all-powerful despot regulating every aspect of the game. In addition, the best Seperatist worlds still competed, so the competiveness of the games was not compromised. In this case, all Rebel worlds were forbidden to take part with no questions asked. Therefore, when the Death Star was destroyed at the Battle of Yavin, the sport's leaders were disheartened because they knew the war would only get worse.

Facing a war and a war-time tyrant, whose interference would undoubtedly intensifying in a time a of crisis, the Galactic Jetball Federation canceled a vast majority of jetball events, including the 0 BBY Galactic Cup. Four years later, another Cup was canceled due to the war. However, it seemed that a new day would soon dawn on jetball. As the Rebels beat back the Empire and transformed into a new Republic, it seemed the sport and the Cup could again thrive, as they would soon return to an unprejudice democracy. In 6 ABY Coruscant would fall and the New Republic would become the dominant Galactic government. In 8 ABY, a year scheduled for a Galactic Cup, it seemed the competition would follow other jetball events in returning to normal. However, the GJF would play on the safe side and call of the tournament yet again.

Back on Track
Finally, in 12 ABY, the Galactic Cup was played again. Hosted on Dac, the home team would emerge victorious. The tournament and sport itself would grow back into it's pre-war popularity, as ratings and attendance broke the records set before the Clone Wars. Notable events included the Wookies being forced to stomach a Trandoshan victory in 20 ABY. However, they would have their revenge the next time around, as Kashyyyk defeated their reptilian rivals four years later to capture their first Galactic Cup title.

Yuuzhon Vong Invasion
The peaceful time of growth would be short lived. In the 25 ABY, the extra-galactic Yuuzhon Vong began their invasion of the galaxy and, in doing so, shut down the sport of jetball. All GJF sanctioned events were canceled in this period, including the 28 ABY Galactic Cup. When the outsiders were finally defeated in 30 ABY, jetball officials prayed for continued peace.

Uninterupted Growth
In 32 ABY, the Galactic Cup was played again. It would be the first set of games in a new era, which experienced unprecedented growth. Not a single Galactic Cup would be canceled again, as the storms of the Swarm War and Second Corellian Insurection would be weathered. In the latter conflict, countless worlds would leave the Galactic Alliance but not a single one would give up it's membership in the Galactic Jetball Federation. During this time Alliance worlds competed alongside Confederation worlds as if nothing was wrong, a true testimate to peace during an unsure time. Darth James came the closest to breaking the game again, as his war against the galaxy, which began in 70 ABY, engulfed countless worlds. However, the sport survived because of the fact that most of the fighting took place in the Outer Rim. While it stopped a number of worlds from entering the 72 ABY Cup, many Rim worlds were able to continue play by relocating to a temporary spot until their homeworld was liberated.

However, from 4-8 ABY and in 28 ABY, the tournament and numerous other jetball competitions were shut down due to the Galactic Civil War and Yuuzhan Vong Invasion respectively. In addition, in 72 ABY, many Outer Rim worlds did not compete due to the war against Darth James. In that year, no 3rd place match was held, due to the war.

Qualification
Qualification is a lengthy process that begins 2 years before the next Cup. Thousands of teams must be withered down to the final 64 that enter the tournament. The host planet and the previous winner receive automatic bids into the final tournament, leaving 62 open spots. If the previous winner is the host nation, the previous runner up receives an automatic bid.

Normal Qualification Process
There are 500 teams in each of the 6 Confederations. The final four of each Confederation's championship tournament receive an automatic berth into the group stage of qualification. The remaining 496 teams play each other in a single elimination tournament, based on the GJF rankings In the first round the highest ranked team plays the lowest, the second highest plays the second lowest and so on. In the second round, the highest remaining team plays the lowest remaining, 2nd highest plays 2nd lowest, etc. When 31 teams remain, the highest ranked team still in play moves on to the group stage. The remaining 30 teams play each other. The 15 winners move on to the group stage as well. Now, there are 20 teams alive in each Confederation. They are organized into 5 groups of 4. Each team plays the other 3 teams in the group once. The top two teams in each group move on to the Galactic Cup. If there is a tie in the record of two or more teams, it is broken by this process:
 * Number of Goals Scored
 * (If above is a tie) Number of Goals Allowed
 * (If above is a tie) GJF ranking.

The Extra Step in the Core
At this point, there are 62 teams in the final tournament (2 Auto-bids, 60 Teams that Qualified). Due to the fact the most competitive jetball takes place in the Core Jetball Association, they are allowed to send 2 extra teams to the Galactic Cup tournament. The four best 3rd place teams from each group in the Core enter another group. If there is tie in the records of 2 or more teams, it is broken by the process above. These 4 teams play each other once and the top 2 teams enter the final tournament.

The Final Tournament
The final tournament has the 64 teams organized into 16 groups of 4. Each team plays the other 3 teams once. The top 2 teams from each group advance into the knockout phase, which is simply a single elimination tournament. Eventually, only 2 teams remain which will play for the championship. The day before the final, the losers of the semifinals compete for 3rd place.

Awards
At the tournaments conclusion, the Galactic Cup MVP is awarded, usually to a player on the winning team. Sol Tios of Alderaan has won the most GC MVPs, with 3. The Galactic Jetball Federation also selects the All-Galactic Cup Team.

Victories Per Planet
Corellia-10

Dac-5

Alderaan/New Alderaan-4

Geonosis-3

Kashyyyk-2

Naboo-1

Mogdopia-1

Trandosha-1

Utapau-1

Cerea-1

Mustafar-1

GJF Galactic Cup Greatest Games
Following the 84 ABY Galactic Cup, the Galactic Jetball Federation chose the 5 best games in Galactic Cup history. The Galactic Cup Greatest Games are:

1. 16 BBY: GC Final: Corellia-4 Naboo-2 (OT) Description- This game was the first and currently only Galactic Cup final to go into over time. With only 3 minutes left, Naboo held a 2-0 lead and seemed destined to win their first Galactic Cup. The resilient Corellians thought otherwise, as Cal Jawdro and Jake Festbrook went to work. Festbrook scored two goals off Jawdro passes, the latter being with only 20 seconds on the clock. In over time, Kol Noto scored a quick goal and later, a score produced by a Jawdro interception sealed the game and the galactic title.

2. 84 ABY: GC Final: Mustafar-1 Coruscant-0 Description: An amazing game, featuring a Mustafarian upset over heavy favorite Coruscant. The Musfarian defense dominated the high scoring Coruscanti offense and scored a brilliant, last minute goal.

3. 24 ABY: GC Quarterfinal: Kashyyyk-7 Toydaria-6 (OT) Description: In a high scoring back-and-forth game, the perenially underachieving Toydarians held a 6-5 lead with only a minute and a half on the clock. They had possesion of the ball and looked like they were going to reach their first Final Four. However, a pass was intercepted with only seconds on the clock. The wookie threw up a desperate pass which was headed in for the game tying goal. After an overtime goal won them the game, the Wookies would eventually make their way to the finals, where they would defeat rival Trandosha for their first Galactic Cup title.

4. 80 ABY: GC Semifinal: Geonosis-1 Fondor-0 (2OT) Description- This 80 ABY semifinal featured Geonosis, which had already won the event twice, and suprising Fondor, which had come from no where to make the Final Four. In a brilliant defensive struggle, the tough Fondor defense shut down the usually high-scoring Geonosian offense. It seemed no one would score in this game, as a 0-0 tie was taken into overtime. The defenses held their opponents scoreless through the first overtime period, so the game went into a sudden-death second overtime. Midway through double OT, the great Geonosian Gizordinho broke away on a center-keeper and dodged defenders for a 50 yard scramble. On the Fondor 4-yard line, he spun away from a defender and fired a shot through the goal, giving Geonosis the victory, en route to their 3rd galactic championship.

5. 12 ABY: GC Quaterfinal: Endor-2 Coruscant-1 Description: With a trip to the Final Four on the line, the underdogs from Endor took on a Coruscanti team who was trying to rewrite it's history of falling apart in big games. The small Ewoks seemed overmatched, but a gutty performance had them tied 1-1 with 5 minutes left. An amazing goal-throw by center Burt Mirpa got Endor the lead. Coruscanti center San Robierto marched Coruscant down the field with a minute left. A deep pass was caught by forward Kyle Gerrard, who fired a shot at goal. It seemed like it would tie the game, but a diving save by Mirpa saved the game. When the ball hit the floor after Mirpa's deflection, Endor had completed one of the most remarkable upsets in GJF history.