-Quidditch World Cup
International Match – Brazil vs. Japan-

Raindrops lazily drizzled down on the Quidditch
pitch as the players from the Brazilian and Japanese Quidditch teams prepared
for their match. There was a fairly good turnout and splatters of green and
yellow or red and white were visible throughout the stands.

Each member of the Japanese team was proudly
sporting a shiny new Kiji 1000, a recently developed, world-class racing broom
by a broom company located in their very own Tokyo, Japan. The Brazilian team,
who all rode older models of the Firebolt, seemed a little worried when they
first spotted Japan’s new, top-notch models, but a quick huddle and a whispered
pep talk from their captain, Keeper Ramírez, set them back on track and
determined to win.

Japan started out strong, with the players
falling into an obviously well-practiced formations, Chasers Takahashi, Sato,
and Kudo maintaining possession of the Quaffle with bold, well-protected full
team arrangements. The two Beaters circled the group, defending and deflecting
rather than attacking with the Bludgers. Even more unusually, instead of
circling above in the typical Seeker strategy, Seeker Hokkaido remained in the
center of the formation, protected from Bludgers and members of the opposing
team, but in a less-than-ideal place to search for the Snitch.

This unusual but highly organized strategy put
off Brazil at first, who started with fairly useless attempts to push their way
in by force by Chasers Rodríguez, García and Alonso, and attempts at direct
hits by Beaters Ríos and Castillo, always deterred by either a deflected
Bludgers or a blocking Chaser.

However, the team regrouped, and after a quick
word from Captain Ramírez, Brazil was back in the game with a strategy of their
own. The team split into groups, above and below the bulk of the Japanese
players, and the Brazilian Chasers dove in for the Quaffle while the Brazilian
Beaters pummeled them with Bludgers, aiming for the Seeker.

Japan scattered, shooting after the Brazilian
trio to regain possession, which gave Beaters Ríos and Castillo ample time to
direct both Bludgers at Seeker Hokkaido, who dodged one, but was hit square in
the shoulder with the other, and toppled off of his broomstick to the ground,
where a group of mediwizards immediately took him away to be treated.

The Japanese team, whose Chasers had managed to
regain the Quaffle and score against Keeper Ramírez, had to bring in their
reserve Seeker. However, while this was taking place, Seeker Sanchez spotted
the telltale gold glint of the Snitch through the rain, and, with no one to
stop him, darted after it and caught it.

It took the fans a moment to realize that the
game had ended, but then cheers erupted from Brazil's supporters, and groans
from Japan’s. The mud-splattered players descended, after a brief victory lap
from Brazil.

Keeper Ramírez commented that: “It was a short
game. Our practice clearly payed off, without any fancy brooms.”

Seeker Hokkaido, captain of the Japanese team,
was unavailable for comment due to his injuries.

Next issue, turn to this page to see coverage of
the match between Brazil and Italy.