Group stage: patience paid
Seeds who played tight through the group stage arrived at the bracket with more margin than the aggressive qualifiers. In a format that scores consistency, that is the expected outcome, though the crowd clearly preferred the aggressive matches.
The final
Both finalists read the board similarly. The difference was when each chose to bank and reset, and the eventual champion banked earlier in three consecutive rounds. It was not spectacular television and it was excellent play.
FAQ
How is the championship scored?
Cumulative points across rounds with a consistency bonus, which is why conservative play performs well.