Risky business gets the job done

Last-minute postponements in Georgia and Uruguay left predictors with just eight games from which to score points, but that did not prevent sotongal returning an impressive 557 in Round 17. The Englishman claimed bonus points in the match of the week, and also correctly anticipated some upsets.

Maritimo's unexpected draw at Porto earned him 89 points, Bidvest Wits´s success at Moroka Swallows added another 80, and Severance's 1-0 defeat of Etoile Sahel a further 79. That's 248 points from just three predictions, and it helped sotongal claim a signed jersey from a FIFA World Cup™ winner.

A single prediction separated first and second place. Hoping to cash in on big points, czr1006 predicted a derby draw in the Netherlands. Much to the American's disappointment, however, Feyenoord continued their poor form with a loss to PSV Eindhoven, thereby denying czr1006 the exact 26 points he needed to match sotongal's score.

Third place went to alonsomosley, who fell just three points shy of second. Had he backed the Wits to overcome the Swallows, alonsomosley would have won the round.

kammer ends year on high ground
The Saururrex sprint finally slowed down to a shaky jog; the Mexican netted only 164 points in Round 17. In second place overall, kammer gained 130 points on his rival, and is now just 184 points off the pace.

Two steady climbers broke into the top five this week. Mexico's reduardo settled into third after a steady spate of decent rounds, while Jordanian Zizo10 took fourth.

Curiously, Germanbark got every prediction wrong and consequently earned zero points. The Argentinean duly stumbled into fifth place.

Will 2008's leaders still feature after the Christmas break, or will 2009 make way for a new crop of dominant predictors? Tune in next year to find out. Round 18's matches will take place on the 10 and 11 January.