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The final showdown in Krawk Island

It was down to the wire in Krawk Island as Black Sail Pirates looked poised to take home the trophy. Heading into the final matches with a two point lead, the powerhouse team were the pre-season favourites as captain Garven Hale led his all-star squad throughout the season to numerous wins. After last season's disappointing finish, Mirsha Grelinek's second season at the club proved to be one of her best as she led the league in scoring. However, there was one club that fans didn't factor – Lagooners, a youthful and highly energetic squad known for their entertaining yooyuball playing style.

Trailing by just a few points, they had to win their last match and hope that Black Sail Pirates would botch their game. At the end of the final match day, it seems that no amount of star power could help Black Sail Pirates as Grelinek and her team tank under pressure once again. Lagooners became the 2010/2011 KI champions with 18 points, while the Pirates trailed in second with 15 points. Last year's champions, Scarblade Society, finished third with 14 points.

No competition in The Lost Desert

There was only one team in LD that looked dominant throughout the entire season, and it was Qasala City Club. Right forward, Lilo Blumario, led the team in goals scored and attributes his team's championship win to their veteran goalkeeper and captain, Olly "The Wall" Oppolee. The Roo Island star said, "We all played our best and that's what counts. It wasn't easy but our captain made sure we knew the stakes and that we didn't give up!"

Finishing with 17 points, Qasala City Club had no competition at all. Golden Pharaohs (last year's champions) and Sakhmet Union tied for second with 11 points. Lairah Heggle, younger sister of renowned LD goalkeeper, Leera Heggle, is revelling in her team's success. "Even though I wasn't chosen to represent Lost Desert in the Altador Cup, I think my skills as a yooyuball player keeps improving. I scored more than I ever did this season and even Lilo's impressed!"

With the final matches of LD and KI, the 2010/2011 national league is over for another year. Still, that doesn't mean yooyuball is over. We've got exclusive Altador Cup coverage so be sure to check that out!

The national league in Mystery Island, Shenkuu and Tyrannia has ended so who are the champions? Let's give a brief recap, shall we?

Mystery Island

It was truly an inspirational moment in Mystery Island as a dark horse ended up taking home the golden trophy. Underdog team, Mystery Tombola, never suspected they would be victors but if we take a look at the standings, no one even came close as they had a whopping 19 points. The club clinched national victory with a game in hand as they had a runaway score, so even if they lost their last match, they'd still win the title. "It was a really emotional moment," says team captain, Roomart Goode. "I always tell everyone to give our best and play for the fans, but we exceeded all of our expectations.

Coming in second with 12 points, Tika Tack Yooyu Squad feels they have a victory as well. Goalkeeper Yaniq Avaan is proud of his teammates, stating, "I can't say that finishing in second is a loss by any means. I'll take it any day! I'm impressed with our my fellow athletes played, and I'm so proud to call them my teammates."

Shenkuu

Though they came pretty close, Shenkuu Warriors Unite couldn't repeat last season's victory as this year the trophy goes to Stealth of Shenkuu. With this title win, they inch closer to The Lunar Crew's 31 national trophies as Stealth currently have 30. Captain of Stealth, "Dirty" Navers, says that the combination of Lost Desert technique, Shenkuu strategics and Mystery Island passion all played a part in their victorious campaign. "We got players from all around Neopia," says the Lost Desert ruki, "we bring something to the table that other teams don't have and it gives us an advantage." Goalkeeper Lor Benneveldt is revelling in his team's success as well. "This is a great win not only for our club but for our fans as well. I hope when the Altador Cup comes around, I can play equally as well for MI." Like many critics and fans, left defender Luvea Trivon has praised his captain for leading them to victory. "I don't think we could have done this without Navers. He's becoming more of strategist and he's at the heart of the club."

Tyrannia

With some of the craziest standings in recent yooyuball history, the four-way deadlock was broken on the last day of matches. So, who walked out on top? It's an unlikely choice, but in the end it was Monotony Yooyu defeating all of the powerhouse teams to claim the prize. Winning only their 8th national title (compare this with 45 for the top teams), this little-club-that-could showed Neopia that a team of supposed "has-beens" can turn things around and give it their all. Kreludor native, Gandy Rigs, is immensely surprised at how his team did. "I've heard about the Tyrannian adage of a good defence being a great offence, but I think today we can add a new saying: a team that plays together, wins together. Every single one of us deserve this!" All five teams finished within mere points of each other, something that reporters haven't seen in recent decades. That just goes to show that the power balance in Tyrannia is shifting. It's no longer about the top two, but perhaps in the future we'll see a league where any club has an equal chance of winning.

With only Krawk Island and Lost Desert leagues competing, the transfer time is quickly coming up. The WAM Celebration Cup, The Altador Cup, The All-Neopia Championship, and so much more, the summer of 2011 is one you don't want to miss!

It's never too early to start talking about the Altador Cup! In fact, our reporters love the AC so much that they start talking about next year's tournament the day after it ends. In a few month's time, Altador Cup fever will be spreading across Neopia but for now, our reporters share their thoughts on the upcoming AC.

Crazedness: I'm a new reporter here so I wasn't covering the 2010 AC with the rest of the YYBP crew. However, I can already tell it's going to be quite the experience. Our reporters have already started drafting up ideas for articles and fan events – ALREADY! And the AC is months away! If that's not insane, I don't know what is.

La_Roque: I think the upcoming Altador Cup is going to be an interesting one to watch. First, with Faerieland's domestic season cancelled, the majority of their international squad haven't had the amount of practice that other teams have. They did have hopes of finishing the tournament mid-table, but I don't see that happening unless there's a miracle. Still, they will be counted as the underdogs because of this, and if there's any team that has the spirit to rally together, it's the FL squad.

Phenix013: The last AC was YYPB's first time covering the event and it was a lot of work. Running from stadium to stadium to cover matches, interviewing the great athletes – it was exhausting. But, at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade a minute of that away for all the neopoints in the world. This year, we've got even more activities planned. Our entire staff sat down and we all came to one conclusion: social interaction. That's all I'll say about that. *sneaky smile*

Turnip: I admit, I'm one of those people that looks forward to the next AC after a tournament just ended. I think the upcoming AC will be one of the most interesting tournaments so far. Last year, we got the Lost Desert squad defeating the so-called "pattern". Can they defeat another "pattern" by being the first team to win back-to-back trophies? What about Moltara? Now that they've played through a full season of yooyuball, their players will have become more skilled and ready to face the pressures of the AC. So many questions and you can bet that in time, they'll be answered.

It seems the rumours were true – the Faerieland yooyuball season has indeed been cancelled! Officials in the FL yooyuball council have been holding back any information but all was revealed in today's press conference:

I'm sad to announce that the 2010/2011 yooyuball season will not take place in Faerieland due to the recent disaster that has taken place. Though our nation is slowly rebuilding, stadiums are still in need of repair and we must make them safe for visitors before any matches can be held in them.'

Though this decision was expected, many fans are still disappointed. One spectator said, "I had a feeling this would happen. I guess I'll just be watching the LD and KI leagues now." International players have also been affected by this recent announcement, with many of them heading back to their respective nations in order to train for the Altador Cup. Goalkeeper of Jhudora's Judgement, Fanetti, says he'll be making the trip back to Haunted Woods. "There's no use in me staying here and getting in people's way," the meerca muttered, "I need to keep playing in order to be ready for the AC."

So, how will this cancellation affect Faerieland's yooyuball? Well, critics are already saying that they probably won't finish as high as they wanted in the Altador Cup. One reporter said, "I know the FL squad wanted to make a push in the next Altador Cup and finish in the mid-table range. I don't see that happening since they're not getting enough practice now and it seems they won't be ready when the time comes."

It's not all bad news...

Even though the FL season has been cancelled, there are two other leagues that began their matches today. With Lost Desert and Krawk Island clubs starting their games, there's lot of action for you to catch even if you were looking forward to the FL clubs. As per usual, Golden Pharaohs opened their season with a dominant 6 – 0 win over Pyramid Patriots. Leera Heggle, rumoured to be replaced by a new goalkeeper in the upcoming Altador Cup competition, was looking sharper than ever and was quick to defend his net and claim a clean sheet. In Krawk Island, Black Sail Pirates managed to scrap their way to a victory. All eyes will (again) be on Mirsha Grelinek after her disappointing time with the club last season. Let's hope that she's settled in by now!

The last game of March wrapped up earlier today. For today's article, we've got action, intrigue, and a bit of gossip for you.

Mystery Island

With today's win over The Geraptiku Giants, Tiki Tack Yooyu Squad catapult into first place in the MI league, but their hold on the top spot is shaky. While they have 8 points, two strong teams are sitting on 7 points, so let's not crown them as champions just yet. "It was an unexpected win," said captain of Tiki Tack, Cee Lonnay. In the press conference following the team's win, it was obvious that even the players weren't hoping to capture the three points. "The Giants are a strong team and today's victory was surprising!"

While three teams are still in the running, two other teams are struggling. Both Sandy Shores and The Island Yooyu Troop have a measly 3 points and if they want to make a play for the trophy, they'll have to win most of their matches in April. Bertie Shurtz, captain of The Island Yooyu Troop, knows her team will have to be at their best. "We've been playing very defensively as we're using a 1 + 3 formation. Still, I think we can be a threat in the second half of the season if we play our cards right".

Shenkuu

Last year's winners, Shenkuu Warriors Unite, are hoping that this nightmare season can be over with. With only 2 points in 4 games, they've come under heavy scrutiny by their fans and critics alike. Namely, their new coach, Jorgy Jorhenson, has been criticized for not using their star player enough, "Son of Shenkuu". Many felt that the mynci effectively won the trophy for his team last year, but he's been pushed aside as the coach is using Mack "25/20" in more of the attacking plays. There are rumours that Jorgy is picking favourites, as both he and Mack are from Mystery Island. Captain of the squad, Xana Dilanche, has made her opinion on this matter clear. "None of us are happy with Jorgy as a coach. He doesn't know what he's doing, and he's not familiar with our playing style." Even Mack doesn't appear to be happy with the latest managerial changes. The Mystery Island poogle said, "I've always been used to playing as a decoy for Son of Shenkuu. He's better at finishing and scoring anyways, so I'm comfortable with that. Now that I'm leading most of the players, well...it's not my strength, let's just say that."

Tyrannia

The match featuring Monotony Yooyu and The Plateau Peoples turned into quite a spectacle as both teams refused to play. The game was scheduled to kick-off at 9:00 AM NST at Monotony Yooyu's home stadium, Wheel Arena, but because of the horrid conditions of the pitch, the players effectively went on strike and refused to leave their locker rooms! "The field is a mess," says Monotony Yooyu defender, Gandy Rigs. "The rest of the team and I have tried to petition the club owners to spend some neopoints and fix it up. But, they don't want to use their profits. It's embarrassing for us as a team." Well, the match eventually did take place but not in the main stadium. Instead, the teams relocated to one of the practice pitches and held the match there. Here's to hoping that the club's officials take notice and tidy their stadium up a bit!

Because the last match of the Jan-Feb season was pushed back, get ready for a long update! First, let's see which clubs won their respective leagues...

Darigan Citadel

It's been a crazy season in DC as old favourites emerged as powerhouses once again. After a devastatingly disappointing time last year, Floating Citadel has proven that they can play without Layton Vickles. With a dominant season throughout, these members are once again in the spotlight as they easily took home the golden trophy. With Floating Citadel getting their 25th national title, this puts them on par with Darigan Doom Club. Right forward, Zenor Kevix, was more than pleased with his side's finish. "You don't even know how much this means to the players," the Kreludan grundo stated, "we're overjoyed and no words can describe this moment. I truly think this is a turning point in the club's history and we can only get better from here."

Meanwhile, powerhouse team Darigan Doom Club didn't perform that well, finishing second last. Captain Kep Bonnefie has expressed her opinions, quite outspokenly in fact. "Ugh, I'm disgusted. I can't believe we did so bad. Just...ugh. Don't expect this kind of play next year."

Roo Island

It was a close run throughout the season, but The Von Roo Squad proved that they had the energy to keep going and eventually finished at the top of the table. Overall, the RI season had a lot of twists and turns that many fans and critics couldn't believe. Captain of The Von Roo Squad, Nauts D'sico, was overjoyed with the club. "I'll tell you this – no team works harder than Von Roo. My teammates and I have put in 110% for our fans and it's paid off."

Probably the biggest disappointment in all four leagues was King Roo Company. With names like Fenny Vail, Gordo Gunnels, and Dayla you'd expect them to be major contenders. However, they placed dead last and it really seemed like they were struggling throughout the entire season. Because of their poor performance, a few of their lucrative sponsors have decided not to renew their contract with the team and it looks like King Room Company may be headed towards some economic difficulties soon.

Terror Mountain

Nobody would have though The Snowager Squad would have what it takes to finish first, but that's just what they did. This underdog team surprised everyone by losing only one match the entire season, and overcoming all odds. Elbin Kroe was especially happy about the win. The Tyrannian defender had no words to say during the press conference and tried his hardest not to tear up. It's a finish that even fans of the club weren't expecting. One spectator said, "You always come out to these matches hoping that your team will win. But I don't think I though this could ever happen because you look at the other teams and they've got star players and such. Well, I'm proud of my club!"

Polarchuck Club is always the favourite to win, but it turns out they didn't do too bad this season. Sure, they had a really rough start and sat at the bottom of the table for a long time. The second half of the season proved to be much better, and they fought their way to second place. "It's not the ending we hoped for," said captain Prytariel, "but I think it just proves that we're a strong team to come back against all odds. I hope our fans have enjoyed our games – I'm just sorry that we didn't go all the way and win the trophy."

Virtupets

Ah, everyone loves an underdog story and that's what happened in the VP league. Grundo Grunts 5000, a team that's written off every year has stunned Neopia as they take their second ever trophy win. The entire team was in tears after their match as they knew they had won the championship title. Captain Koling "Patch Eyes" said, "yarr, this be the best moment of me life. Even better than finding that lost crate of dubloons in my youth. My crewmates and I couldn't be happier if you gave us Scarblade's ship!"

While the underdog teams played well, Stars of Space were anything but the stars they were last year. It was evident that they struggled in every game and their season went from bad to worse with multiple injuries. Captain Keetra Deile said, "Of course I'm disappointed. I'm not sure where we went wrong...it's just...*sigh*..."

Some interesting facts...

Three of the four winning clubs this season had the same amount of points in the end – 17!

As expected, the DC league had the most warnings and fouls given out by referees. The league also had the highest number of penalty shots taken.

On the opposite side, the Roo Island league had the league fouls.

Over 90% of match tickets were sold in the Virtupets league, making it their highest earning season yet.

As we leave DC, RI, TM, and VP to celebrate, a new season begins in Mystery Island, Shenkuu, and Tyrannia!

What will the new season have in store for us? Can we expect more unexpected results? Stay tuned!

With the destruction of Faerieland, many people are wondering if the FL league will be cancelled this upcoming April. Reconstruction has be relatively slow as Neopians from around the world give a helping hand to the faeries in this difficult time. Support from the yooyuball world has also poured in, with donations reaching 240 million neopoints worldwide. "I'm deeply touched by everyone's generosity," Queen Fyora told our Yooyuball Planet reporters. "To all of the yooyuball fans, players, and reporters, the faeries and I would like to extend our thanks."

With stadiums in need of repair and safety testing, it seems fans of the FL league are worried about the cancellation of the season. One fan told us, "the most important thing is getting all of the houses back together. Fixing the stadiums is the last thing on anyone's minds at the moment. I can understand this but I'd be a little disappointed if this season didn't happen."

Some of the world's top athletes have been affected by this as well. Many of the international players have been asked to go back to their respective nations as their AC coaches fear for their safety. Manager of the Haunted Woods team said, "And here I thought Faerieland was all happy clouds and pretty rainbows! It's not safe anymore, and Xandra proved that! I want all of my HW players back home where it's safe!" Fanetti, goalkeeper of Jhudora's Judgement, hopes that regardless of the situation, the FL league will decide to play on. "The league brings in a ton of revenue each season. I'm sure a portion of that money can be used to rebuild the cities. Of course, players should be paid first..."

Still, yooyuball has taken a backseat on some players' minds. "It'll take some time for us to get back on our feet," says center forward, Elbin Towse. "Right now, the thing that's most important is helping the faeries and my neighbours rebuild."

Though there's no official news yet, the possible cancellation of the FL season will be effected by many variables. First, it depends how quickly Faerieland can rebuild and resume its normal city functions so that stadiums can be examined and fixed. Second, will stadiums even be fixed? Some are saying that so much of the budget has been used to fix other parts of the city that there might not be enough neopoints left over this fiscal year to fix stadiums. Again, this is all speculation but it seems at this point that the FL league is edging closer to cancellation. Our reporters will be staying on top of this current issue and as soon as we get any confirmation, we'll be publishing it on this site.

With only three match days left before the end of the season, clubs are going into overdrive as they fight for every point they can get. Here's a (very belated) mid-season article on the current situation.

Darigan Citadel

Floating Citadel played a crucial match today, and because they came away with the win they now take control of the DC league with 14 points. Falling in behind is Menace of the Sky with 10 points. Many critics are predicting that the final showdown will be between these two clubs, but let's not count out Kass Division. They're in third place with 8 points, but their fans are hoping that the players will have enough gas in the tank to push forward in the home stretch. Right defender of Kass Division, Vignacio, hopes that she'll be an important contribution to her team in the weeks to come. "I've got to focus on the task at hand," says Kreludor-born lutari, "everyone on the team is trying their best not to get too tired right now because we need more wins!"
Who's the favourite to win? A toss-up between Floating Citadel and Menace of the Sky. However, I think Citadel has the slight advantage. They're hungrier for the win after last season's fiasco and they have the drive.
Which club has no chance? The Darigan Demons. With a measly 2 points from five games, I predict a bottom-of-the-table finish.

Roo Island

It's gearing up to be quite a finish in the RI league, with pretty much four teams still looking strong. They're all pretty close in terms of points, but who has the energy to keep on playing? Dice-A-Yooyu Team had a surprise win today over Team Roo Roo Roos, and they're the underdog club for the moment. However, the big story of the day is Blumaroos of the Isle and their 1-0 win over King Roo Company. This win puts them in the lead with 11 points, just ahead of The Von Roo Squad with 10 points. The Von Roo's left forward, Verge Javon, has been absolutely furious with her team's recent displays, and has made no qualms about keeping quiet about it. "It just sickens me that we're not taking the win because I know we're capable of beating the other teams. There's a lack of concentration and we have to pull it together or we might as well just give us now."
Who's the favourite to win? With so many great clubs neck-in-neck, it's hard to choose! If I had to choose one, then Team Roo Roo Roos gets my vote. They had a minor setback today, but hopefully they'll look back at the club's glorious history and be motivated to stay focused.
Which club has no chance? King Roo Company. They only have two matches left, and supposing that they win both matches, they'll only have 9 points anyways. The important thing for them is to give their all for the fans. They have no chance of winning the title, but they can still play their hearts out for the supporters.

Terror Mountain

It's another underdog story, this time set in the TM league. The Snowager Squad is sitting on 13 points from 5 games, more than enough to cement their next title win, but can they keep the lead? Today, they had a disappointing tie with Happy Happy Valley Citizens. The Squad were up 5 – 0 but squandered their big lead and the match ended with a 7 – 7 draw. The defensive line looked really shaky throughout the game, something that fans are worried about. Many fans are criticizing left defender, Elbin Kroe, for his lack of presence on the field. In other TM news, Polarchuck Club seems to be making a comeback as they take the win and earn another three points, putting them in second place. Though they started the season off horribly, will this powerhouse team power through to first place?
Who's the favourite to win? The Snowager Squad is my pick but many critics are now jumping ship to predict the win for Polarchuck Club. Personally speaking, if the Squad continue to play like they did at the beginning of the campaign, they'll have another national title win. They need to learn from their mistakes from their latest game.
Which club has no chance? Ice Cream Screamers are so far behind the lead, that they have no chance now. With two games on hand, the best they can finish is second or third. Virtupets

While powerhouse team Cosmo Supers lost another match, they're still tied for second place with 10 points. In today's match, the players just looked so exhausted and could barely keep up with their opponents. Later in a press conference, captain Rinok Fitel had this to say, "I'm not sure where our game went. I mean, we were confident going into the match, but I knew something was wrong a few minutes in. We were all sluggish and a few of our members were playing on an injury." In the other match today, it seems that underdog fever has swept across Neopia as Grundo Grunts 5000 takes the slim lead with their win over Stars of Space. What's with all of the powerhouse teams struggling all of a sudden? I'm sure the other clubs aren't complaining.
Who's the favourite to win? I never thought I'd say this, but it's a toss-up between Grundo Grunts 5000 and Virtupet Yooyu-Bots. While both are known for being the "underachievers" of the VP league, both clubs have been playing amazingly well thus far. It just goes to show you that having "star players" on your team isn't all that important.
Which club has no chance? Stars of Space – and trust me when I say, I'd never imagine lumping this team in the "no chance" pile. With three Altador Cup veterans on the team, you'd think that they'd be able to earn more than 5 points in 5 games, but alas, this just isn't their season.

Yummy, smell that? Here, let me...it's about done anyways," Lor comes in and swipes the spoon from my hand, much to my relief. He takes the pot and pours the melted Eitchtwoo Melon into a small bowl, the smell wafting through the kitchen. "Wow, nice stirring," he says to me, "you're an expert yourself!" Taking the Munuberries, he skilfully slices them into thin pieces, which he then layers on a large plate. "Part of the Island cuisine is the fact that it's more about the social gathering. That's why the food is usually placed on one large plate, instead of everyone having their own," he explains. Taking a few Golden Juppies, he chops it into large cubes and sprinkles this on top. "It's also about the freshness. The fresher the ingredients, the better it'll taste, especially the berries and juppies that are used."

Though he's a Mystery Islander through and through, he's been playing with SK club Stealth of Shenkuu for the better part of four years. Many MI fans are hoping that he'll return one day, a hope that he also shares. "It's always hard to plan out your career, you know? I really want to play for one of the MI clubs though, because the atmosphere here is more relaxed and fun. Nothing against the Shenkuu league, of course. They're strict, disciplined, and it's their method of training. I definitely want to end my career off by playing for an MI team though."

Making myself useful, I ask the goalkeeper if there's anything I can do. He tells me that there are some Mystery Island Fizzy Tiki Drinks in the fridge, so I start to gather some cups and start pouring. "The dish is just about done," Lor comments, "it's a pretty messy dish to eat, so bring out some napkins as well." I make my way to the cabinet he was pointing at when I heard someone knock on the door. "Hey Lor! Open up!" the voice says. Lor looks at me, "oh, that's Teylor! Let him in." I barely get the door open before Teylor Nix sprints to the kitchen. "I thought I smelled The AC Island Supreme," the Nimmo says, "I figured you'd invite me over anyways." Lor stops grilling the Red Juppies and looks over at his MI teammate. "Um, Teylor, you smelled what I was cooking? Don't you live on the other side of MI?" Teylor looks around sheepishly, "yeah, well...I have a keen sense of smell."

Lor gives a chuckle, "might as well stay - " Before he could finish, his front door opens again and Bertie, Volgoth, and Vela file in. Bertie gives me a wave and says, "I thought I heard someone say party?" Lor sighs, "Bertie, someone is always saying 'party' on Mystery Island. Good thing I made enough food! Come in everyone!" Sitting down at the table, Lor brings over the plate and pours the Eitchtwoo sauce on. "Smells absolutely divine," Vela comments, "you've outdone yourself Lor!" We all begin to take our tortillas and put spoonfuls of the chopped berries and juppies on it, wrapping it tightly to keep the sauce inside. "Oopsie," Bertie squeaks, "spilled some." We all laugh as I hand her some napkins. As I take a bite into the delicious AC Island Supreme, I think to myself, when Lor retires from yooyuball, he has to open a restaurant!

As Mystery Island's first choice goalkeeper, Lor Benneveldt knows what it's like to be in the spotlight. Off the field, he's known for being a happy fellow, easy to approach, and exceptionally dependable. What many people may not know is that this athlete is also an aspiring chef. "I've always been a fan of cooking," says the Island Flotsam at he gets ready to make his next dish. "Usually when the Mystery Island team and I travel to different places, they ask me to bring some of my ingredients along because they're used to the Island cuisine." As he manoeuvres his way around the kitchen, Lor looks like he's been a chef for his entire life. Just how long has he been at it? The happy-go-lucky yooyuballer gives a big hearty laugh, "well, I guess I would call myself a 'chef', but I'm nowhere near as good as those professionals! I guess I just like experimenting with food and my friends would sometimes give me rare ingredients for my birthday. I used to help my parents around the kitchen, so I've been at it for a while now."

Growing up, Lor's parents were always encouraging him to follow his dreams, whether it was in the kitchen or on the playing field. "What a lot of people don't realize was that growing up, I wanted to be a chef. My dream was to open up a restaurant in Mystery Island, and perhaps establish a food chain around Neopia to share the Island cuisine with the rest of the world. Maybe, I'd even have a restaurant on Kreludor!" Cooking and yooyuball may seem like totally different things, but to Lor, it's all the same. "For me," he says as he begins to chop an Eitchtwoo Melon quickly, "it's about perfecting your craft. Cooking isn't just 'making food'. It's about choices, like whether to use Ellecha or Taokicarrot as your main ingredient. You have to be careful, because if you're not then your dish won't taste so great, and people won't like it. For yooyuball, you have to make choices as well. Should I stay on my line and defend or maybe go out from my net and help my defenders deal with it?" The goalkeeper opens a cupboard, pulls out an Ombus Fruit, but frowns and pulls out a couple of Munuberries instead.

Today, Lor says he'll be making his special dish for us, called The AC Island Supreme. When asked about the name of his creation, he gave a chuckle and replied, "It's something I cooked up during last year's Altador Cup. Bertie was feeling a bit homesick, so I decided to create an authentic Island dish, using the ingredients that I brought along." Lor fills a small pot with two cups of water, letting it come to a boil before adding the chopped Eitchtwoo Melon. "This is the secret part of the recipe," he begins excitedly, "you let it melt out a bit and you need to stir it constantly. You don't mind helping me with that, do you? Thanks." The Flotsam hands me a spoon before I get the chance to tell him that while he may be a great cook, I wasn't. Oh well, stirring doesn't seem too hard...

Be sure to catch part II next Saturday!

Welcome to 2011 and a brand new season! For the next two months, our reporters will be following all of the games taking place in Darigan Citadel, Roo Island, Terror Mountain, and Virtupets. Today's not only the first day of the year, but also the first day of matches! Our reporters sat down and made some comments and predictions about the new season...

Darigan Citadel
Though Darigan Doom Club has the star power in their line-up, their training sessions have been in complete shambles. There's word of a some tension between captain Kep Bonnefie and goalkeeper, Robbin Gorson. They'll need to put their differences aside if they expect to play smoothly. One team that I'd watch out for is Floating Citadel, and their right forward, Zenor Kevix. They may not have had a great season last year, but maybe this time they'll be able to pull themselves together. Last season, their game suffered because Layton Vickles transferred to an LD club, but it looks like they can play without him now.

Roo Island
Blumaroos Of The Isle's tie today wasn't the worst thing that could happen, but I know that the fans and players were expecting a win. Still, many critics peg them as the team to beat as Teylor Nix and Jair Tollet have been playing some of their best yooyuball so far. If we're judging by the roster alone, King Roo Company has the clear advantage with three Altador Cup veterans, but after today's surprising 3 – 1 loss, it seems they're starting their season with no points.

Terror Mountain
With some of the youngest athletes in Neopia, this season will prove to be an energetic one. As usual, Happy Happy Valley Citizens find themselves as the favourites once again, and opening with a strong win against their opponents is sure to boost their confidence. There are never any "underdog" teams in Terror Mountain because their talent pool is just so deep, but as far as underachievers go, I'd say The Snowager Squad has a lot of potential. They've won their fair share of domestic trophies, but it just seems they can't get out of the shadows of the more popular clubs. A win this season or at least a spectacular finish can change that.

Virtupets
The opening day featured two of the top teams in VP playing against the "lesser" clubs. As expected, both the powerhouses won their matches, though Stars of Space looked to be the stronger of the two so far. My predictions for this season will probably be the same as the last: Stars of Space and Cosmo Supers will be the dominant teams and the other three clubs will be scrambling to catch up. However, let's not count out Virtupets Yooyu-Bots. This is a team that can be in the final two if they play their cards right. They need to focus on their attacking plays and they'll need to keep up and score often.

The last matches of 2010 were held earlier today and boy, what an exciting day! Let's summarize the action, shall we?

Kiko Lake
Kiko Crew played some of their best yooyuball this season and in the end, captain Moni Vyshan held the Kiko Lake championship trophy high into the air as their fans cheered them on. "It's been quite an emotional journey," says teammate and KL international, Holbie Pinnock. "We've all had our ups and downs, but we'll always remember this moment when we overcame all of our challenges." Kiko Crew finished their season with a strong win over their opponents and finished 2010 with a huge 7-point lead over the second place team.

Kreludor
D-Fying Gravity came so close, but Kreludan Adventurers proved that they are a force to be reckoned with. With 18 points, the Adventurers win their 31st national title, more than any other team in Kreludor so far. Right defender and Brightvale star, Montecito, is extremely pleased with his side's title win. "The fans have definitely kept our spirits up the entire season," the Kacheek said during the press conference, "they gave us confidence and believed in us. It's been a great year for me and I'm so proud of my teammates."

Maraqua
A giant amount goalkeepers, Tonie Plessix and his teammates held off the attacking forces of Underwater Revolution to seize a 10 – 10 draw, meaning Kelp United has gone undefeated throughout the entire season. Teammate and center forward, Pellis Silvakuras, knew that her team was entering the season with targets on their back. "All the other clubs are wary of us. We're a proven powerhouse and I think we just proved that once again. Don't mess with Kelp United!"

Moltara
Today was the moment that Moltarans and Neopians across the world had been waiting for as the question of who would be the first champions of the MT league was answered. In the end, Tanks of Tangor came away with a victory, after managing to score a last-second goal against The Lampwyck Lightnings! Captain and right forward, Raqher Soley, couldn't hold back his excitement as the final whistle was blown, signalling the end of the match. Fellow teammate, Mikey Bartowsko, noted that this was an exceptionally important win for the captain. "Raqher's always been in his brother's [Dasher Soley] shadow. I definitely don't think that's the case anymore."

As always, the standings have been updated so be sure to head over there to check out the complete standings.
It's been quite a year, hasn't it? From Yooyuball Planet's first Altador Cup coverage, to our one-year anniversary, 2010 has been full of memorable moments. Let's recap some of the YYBP staff's favourite moments of this past year:

The W.A.M. Celebration Cup
It's not often that fans get a chance to prove their skills, but The WAMCC provided yooyuball fanatics all over Neopia with the opportunity to do just that. After weeks of intense group stages and knockout rounds, only one remained: Icedolfin of Terror Mountain. He bided his time during the earlier rounds and came out as the victor!

Altador Cup: 2010
2010 was the first time that YYBP was covering the AC, and we had the privilege of sitting down with all 18 captains, getting their views on the tournament. It was an intense battle but in the end, our reporters were there when Leera Heggle of The Lost Desert hoisted the golden trophy into the air.

The All-Neopia Championship
The thing that surprised most people is that Meridell's Peasant Peoples United made it all the way to the finals. Though they eventually lost to Altadorian Heroics, the United squad would stand as victors in their own league, finally being able to overcome the "underdog" title and go through the season undefeated. The ANC is where all of the best clubs in the world compete, and Altadorian Heroics rose up and become the champion among champions.

August 2010 and beyond
In August 2009, a new "planet" was born – Yooyuball Planet. One year later, we celebrated our first anniversary and as we look back on our favourite moments of 2010, let us all look forward to 2011. With more action-packed seasons heading your way, you can be sure that we'll have all of the latest news.

2010 has been a great year. Let's make 2011 an even better one.

After the festivities this morning, many clubs found themselves back on the playing field as today marks the second to last game of the season. Here are some highlights of today:

Kiko Lake
What an amazing game between Kiko Crew and Kiko Karpenters Guild as the two sides battled it out to the very last second. Kiko Crew could safely guarantee the title if they walked away with three points, and in the end, they did! They defeated the Guild with a score of 10 – 8, meaning they have 16 points in 7 games. Unfortunately, that means Front Shore United can – at best – finish in second. Meanwhile, the battle Kiko Creatures and Lake Stars came to an unsatisfying conclusion as the two teams could only manage a 9 – 9 draw.

Kreludor
It's still anyone's trophy in Kreludor! Kreludan Adventurers may have taken the slim lead after today's victory, but with a team sitting on 12 points, they'll have to fight to the last breathe if they want to win this season. D-Fying Gravity dominated their match against Galactic Yooyus and has turned quite a few heads this season. "They're playing like an entirely different team," one fan says, "I think we stand a great chance at winning. We're no longer the underdogs!"

Maraqua
Since Kelp United is so far in the lead, teams in Maraqua will be battling it out for second place. One team that definitely won't be there? Maraquan Marauders, who finished their last game of the season today with another disappointing loss. With 6 points from 8 games, fans are furious as how low the team has sunk since hoisting the trophy last season. The coach has come under fire and especially their star forward, Elon Hughlis. "I think we need a new forward," a long-time fan of the club said, "Hughlis is too selfish and he never passes to his teammates."

Moltara
Moltara has had its ups and downs in terms of yooyuball, but this season has shown that this nation down under has what it takes to deliver the thrills and chills of the beautiful game. With four teams still in the running of the trophy, the excitement is reaching an all-time high. Obsidian Armoury could have clinched the title, but The Lampwyck Lightnings held them off and won the game, 5 – 1. Still, the Armoury is in the lead with 14 points, but many feel Tanks of Tangor could edge them out. With one game in hand and 13 points, they may very well be Moltara's first champions.

The action is wrapping up as the final match approaches on December 28. Be sure to tune in for the thrilling conclusion of the November-December season, as well as our special end-of-the-year article.

Last but not least, a very merry Christmas to all of our readers from the YYBP staff. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Yooyuball's Finest is a series where we take an in-depth look at Neopia's greatest athletes and teams. Just what does it take to become a star yooyuballer? What goes on behind-the-scenes at a club? Here's your chance to find out!

The Virtupets yooyuball league is best known for their use of robotic players and today, we feature one of the earliest models of The Goalforce series. Dubbed The Goalforce 1.0, it was the first model ever released and is considered to be an ancient piece of technology.

Player Stats:
Position: Left Forward
Species: Kacheek
Place of Origin: Virtupets Space Station
Paint Color: Robot
Strengths: Stamina, consistent, scoring
Weaknesses: Easily fooled

As one of the forwards for the VP club, Grundo Grunts 5000, Goalforce is partnered with Jupiter Greene and between the two of them, they scored the majority of the goals last season. As with all robotic players, their major weakness is that they are easily fooled since they're programmed to repeat the same motions over and over again. However, the other members of Grundo Grunts 5000 see Goalforce as more than just a robot. "I definitely see Goalforce as being part of the team," says Kolby Vitti, "a lot of people complain about the fact that it's an outdated model, but that doesn't bother me or the rest of the team. Goalforce is part of the family and you'd be surprised how lifelike it is. Just the other day, Devlin was feeling sick and Goalforce brought him a cup of tea without anybody asking. Some people found that creepy, but I thought it was a nice gesture."

Not only can this robot score, but it also comes up with strategic plays as well. "It'll come up with a system for playing," says teammate Greene, "it'll highlight areas where we're weak and what we need to work on. It can even replay our matches and tell us what we're doing wrong." Stamina, the ability to score goals and even making a cup of tea. These are some of the things that make The Goalforce 1.0 one of yooyuball's finest.

Some big matches were played today and as always, we expected (and saw) a lot of drama. Let's recap some of today's action.

Disappointment for Front Shore United
After their tie against Kiko Crew, Front Shore United sees their lead disappearing before their very eyes. They've already played a whopping seven games up to this point and will now be waiting to wrap up their last and final match. They are sitting on 11 points, but the story here is that Kiko Crew has caught up, securing 10 points so far and having 2 games on hand. After a terrible display from the home team, Front Shore United players were booed by their fans as they exited the field. That's a bit harsh, wouldn't you agree?

Top KD teams plagued with injury woes
Galactic Yooyus' right defender and captain, Zayle Sufhaux, suffered a minor elbow injury during today's match-up against Kreludor Meteorites. Though the coach has assured fans that the pirate Grundo will be ready to play in their next game, some have doubts. In another club, left defender Derlyn Fonnet is doubtful to start next game as she picked up an ankle injury during training. There's no word on how long she may be sidelined, but rumour is that she will probably sit out until the final match.

Maraquan Marauders continue to sink
Kelp United has pretty much won the trophy as they take a resounding win over their rivals, Maraquan Marauders. Elon Hughlis, star forward of the Marauders, left the stadium straight after the final whistle, not acknowledging his fans, teammates, or coach. His captain and fellow teammate had this to say, "He just ran out of the stadium and said that he was disappointed with us. He didn't stop to say 'hi' to fans or sign autographs, something we always do after a game. The kid better not do that again – it's disrespectful, and shows a tremendous lack of class. He has a lot of explaining to do for his actions and he needs to apologize to the fans that spent good neopoints on tickets to see us play."

Moltara Vision demolished by Tanks of Tangor
After rallying together, Moltara Vision couldn't pull any tricks out of the hat as Tanks of Tangor destroyed them in a 10 – 4 victory. Tulah Kisner, captain of the team, expressed bitter disappointment, saying "this defeat is hard to take. We're a good team - I know we're stronger and better than this but to have nothing to show for it...well, it's hard". At the beginning of the season, the club had hopeful prospects leading up to their matches, but now, with only two games to go, fans know that any chance of being the first Moltara league champs has vanished.

And that is the wrap-up for today. A bit depressing, huh? Looks like everything's going wrong for these clubs but hopefully they'll be able to turn things around next week.

It's hard to believe but November has come and gone – clubs in Kiko Lake, Kreludor, Maraqua and Moltara are now halfway through the season. We had a ton of action today, so let's do a recap!

Kiko Lake
Front Shore United may be in the lead, but it's a slim one as they are only one point ahead of Kiko Crew. United right forward, Meela Kitah, says that she's confident that her side will be able to hang on and win this season. "December's going to be a great month for us," the pink Kiko says confidently, "I think we still have a lot of gas in the engine and we're ready to go." Regardless, Kiko Crew does have a slight advantage. Front Shore may be ahead, but they've played 5 games already whereas the Crew has only played 4. Captain of Kiko Crew, Moni Vyshan, warns her teammates about the upcoming matches. "This is where things will get interesting. We've got a game over Front Shore, but they've been playing really well. We need to focus and be wary of each club we go up against.

What about the other teams? Kiko Creatures may only have 4 points, but they've only played 3 games, leaving a lot of room for catching up. Captain and goalkeeper, Stefan Fries, says that the fan's frustration is understandable but everyone needs to look at the big picture. "I think the club has always had a rough start early in the season and 4 points from 3 games is a pretty bad record. However, there has been a lot of draws in the other matchups and I think that gives us the opportunity to enter the fray."

Kreludor
The four-way tie for first place has been broken as Kreludan Adventurers jumps to the top spot with 9 points. Still, the other three clubs are so close that it's hard to give them the immediate advantage. The Adventurers' right defender, Montecito, urged his team to keep on pushing forward. "Now's not the time to give up," the Brightvale international commented, "other teams will be targeting us even more so we can't take it easy just because we're at the top now."

Can another underdog team win? We've seen it happen with Peasant Peoples United, but what about Spacebounded? They're sitting in second place with 7 points, but with two strong teams at 6 points, the players must be feeling a bit nervous. Goalkeeper Xyler Spyck has often been accused as being the weakest link of the team as the youthful Draik is still relatively inexperienced. However, he's had a spotless season so far so let's see if he can continue his good performance.

Maraqua
How the mighty have fallen! Maraquan Marauders may have been champs last time around, but to everyone's surprise they are now sitting at the very bottom of the table with 2 measly points in a whopping 4 games. In today's anticipated match-up between the Marauders and Kelp United, Elon "The Black Hole" Hughlis may have been the high scorer for his side but they just couldn't beat the United goalkeeper, Tonie Plessix. Fans have been fuming as the players are constantly fumbling most of their plays. Meanwhile, the coach has adopted a nonchalant attitude and refuses to address any problems. Perhaps December will be a better month?

Going all the way to the top of the table, Kelp United has had a perfect season, winning all 4 of their games and sitting on a comfortable 12 points. The only team that comes close is Arkmite Attackers with 6 points, but come on, how likely are they going to catch up? In my opinion, the season is pretty much over and unless Kelp United loses the rest of their games (which is extremely unlikely), they'll be hoisting the golden trophy at the end of December.

Moltara
Moltara may not have had the best Altador Cup run, but their national league has drawn attention from all over Neopia as people tune in to see these scrappy and energetic teams compete. This week, things have gotten a lot more exciting as 3 teams are tied for first place. Obsidian Armoury, Tanks of Tangor, and The Marlock Cavalry all have 7 points. Though many of the games have ended in draws, spectators are still coming out in high numbers to support their team. One fan of The Lampwyck Lightnings said, "It's great that yooyuball has come to Moltara. It's boosting our economy and we're seeing a ton of people from all over the world. I've never seen it so lively down here!"

So, what about December? Well, since the teams are all new this season they are all sticking to what they know best. The Lightnings are super fast, Tanks of Tangor are great at scoring, and Obsidian Armoury has one of the best defensive players in the league. If any team wants to take the lead and be the first to win the ML national league, they have to break out of their comfort zone and take a risk.

Yooyuball's Finest is a series where we take an in-depth look at Neopia's greatest athletes and teams. Just what does it take to become a star yooyuballer? What goes on behind-the-scenes at a club? Here's your chance to find out!

Xila Kitae has been called everything from a "future all-star" to "Kreludor's best young keeper". This young Grundo has caught the attention of many people after making her international debut as Kreludor's first choice goalkeeper. Though she was replaced by Jurin T., she says that the experience was something she'll never forget. "I had so much fun," she said, "I never thought I'd have a chance to travel to Neopia, so going to Altador, meeting new people, and playing on a big stage like the Altador Cup was amazing!"

Player Stats:
Position: Goalkeeper
Gender: Female
Species: Grundo
Place of Origin: Kreludor
Paint Color: Pink
Strengths: Speedy, optimistic
Weaknesses: Inexperience

As the goalkeeper for the KD club, Galactic Yooyus, Xila has experienced a lot of success and hopes that she'll be able to inspire young athletes to become a goalkeeper as well. Citing the likes of Maraqua's Marshton Fellows and The Lost Desert's Olly "The Wall" Oppolee as her heroes, this youthful player puts 100% into everything she does. Her teammate and captain, Zayle Sufhaux, says that he's lucky to have someone like Xila on his squad. "Yarr, she be like a golden dubloon you find in the sand," the pirate Grundo exclaims, "Xila may be a young lass, but she works harder than a crew of deck swabbers in a storm."

Though often with youth comes inexperience, Xila's eagerness to learn more about the game and her unyielding work ethic make her one of yooyuball's finest.

Two matches into the new season and already people are picking their favourites as clubs in Kiko Lake, Kreludor, Maraqua, and Moltara battle it out. Be sure to check out the Latest Scores and League Standings to see how your team is doing so far. Now, let's see what's happened so far...

Kiko Lake
As usual, the top two teams in Kiko Lake are tied at the top of the table. Front Shore United and Lake Stars both have 4 points from 2 games but could we possibly see another underdog team win a season? All of the clubs are relatively close together and I wouldn't count out the teams at the bottom just yet. Though they haven't earned any points yet, Kiko Crew has been in the spotlight lately for upping their training sessions and creating a more unified team.

Kreludor
Though it's always hard to judge the teams based on only two games, all of the clubs are relatively neck-in-beck. Kreludan Adventurers have had a perfect streak so far but there are three teams that are close on their tails. Meanwhile, Spacebounded need to pull their game together. They've yet to register any points and the main problem seems to be their defence (or lack of one). The goalkeeper has taken much of the blame so far, but the forwards need to score more as well and do their part.

Maraqua
Kelp United must like their view at the top as they dominate the league so far with 6 points in two games. The other four clubs have to step it up and make sure United doesn't have a runaway lead. Disappointing for last season's champions, Maraquan Marauders opened their first game with a draw and only gained one point. Even more disappointing is Maractite Field, with 0 points in two games. Many have criticized them for their lack of attacking plays this season, but I suppose we'll see how everything plays out.

Moltara
With a ton of draws, there aren't any clear-cut leaders in Moltara so far. As the newest league in Neopia, many critics and fans alike are keeping an eye out for the clubs here. Opening their campaign with a win, many peg Tanks of Tangor as being the club to win the first national title. Of course, it's too early to tell. Obsidian Armoury has yet to lose in their two games so far, and currently sit at the top of the table.

The final day of matches has arrived in Altador, Brightvale, Haunted Woods, and Meridell. Which clubs will be lifting their league trophy at the end of today?

Altador
In Altador, the winner would be decided in one crucial match: Minitheus Gladiators versus Altadorian Heroics. The Gladiators needed a win, while the Heroics only needed to hold on to a draw and that's what they did. The game ended with a score of 8 – 8, meaning that Altadorian Heroics are champs once again. 2010 has been their year, from winning The All-Neopia Championships to their league title. Looks like they'll be needing a larger trophy cabinet!

Brightvale
Brightvalers have become back-to-back title winners as they took the top of the table, securing their trophy for another season. While drama and reports of trash talking always plague this prestigious BV team, the players know that they had to put aside their differences and focus on their game. Today, the team ended the season with a convincing win over Knowledge United and they'll be hoisting the trophy once again at the closing ceremonies later today.

Haunted Woods
Northwood Were-Pets needed to earn the full three points to be back-to-back winners while table leaders Southeast Vampires had already finished their 8 games last weekend and were now anxiously awaiting the outcome of that match. In the end, the Were-Pets battled against the Spectres but to no avail as the match ended in a disappointing 9 – 9. That means the Southeast Vampires will be crowned as the HW league champions this season! In his first season with the club, "Brains" Mortigan has been quite the impact player and fans are hoping that he'll be staying at the club for a long time to come.

Meridell
With six wins and two draws, Peasant Peoples United had an undefeated season that was spectacular, dramatic, suspenseful, and engaging. I always love an underdog story but for United, this is one tale that had a happy ending. After coming so close last season, the team seems to be completely reborn. Taking out all the giants in one fell swoop, this ragtag bunch from a small village in Meridell has proven that passion for the game and determination can go a long way. Congratulations to these fine athletes!

And there you have it! The first leagues of the 2010-2011 playing season have concluded. On November 1st, be sure to tune in for Day One of matches in Kiko Lake, Kreludor, Maraqua, and the new league, Moltara. Also, be sure to check the letter from the editor, located on the splash page. Thanks for joining us for the AL, BV, HW, and MD season and we hope you'll stop by the next competitions!

With next Saturday being the last day of the September/October yooyuball season, which clubs are ready to take home some new silverware? In fact, some clubs are already guaranteed to be at the top of the table by the end of next week, so let's take a look at the leagues!

Altador
In Altador, it's neck-and-neck between two of the best teams in Neopia. Altadorian Heroics won The All-Neopia Championship and want to add some more trophies to their cabinet. However, Minitheus Gladiators is their biggest rival and sits only one point behind them. Both teams play their last match next Saturday so it'll be interesting to see who can perform under pressure. Both teams need to register a win, but Minitheus Gladiators will be hoping that their rivals falter. On the other side of things, Torakor Yooyu Team has now completed their eight games. Unfortunately, they sit at the very bottom of the table. Surprising news is that Siyana's Elite, last year's champs, also grace the bottom of the table. Someone get a doctor because this looks like a case of winner's curse to me.

Brightvale
We already know who's taking home the trophy as Brightvalers become back-to-back champs with a runaway score of 16 with one match to play. No team can catch up at this point and it seems the fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Earlier in the season, there were many talks of discord amongst the teammates but it seems that they've worked out their differences and focussed on the game. It was a disappointing season for Motes of Brightvale, who had such high hopes going in. They have a game to play but they currently only have two points. I'm certain that the managers and coaches will want to change up the roster a bit next summer. Expect to see new faces on the team next time around!

Haunted Woods
Brains" Mortigan has been absolutely outstanding for his team this season, but was it enough? Their main rivals, Northwood Were-Pets may crash the Southeast Vampires' party next Saturday. Here's the scenario. The Vampires have completed their 8 games and have 15 points. Northwood Were-Pets have one more game to play and currently have 12 points. If the Were-Pets win next week, they'll tie for first place, meaning the decision will go down to goal differences. For other clubs, I've seen major improvements as well. The Candy Corn Crew were predicted to finish at the bottom of the table, but they're currently sitting in third place! With Halloween coming up, the festivities and excitement in Haunted Woods will be reaching new heights!

Meridell
No team can possibly catch up to Peasant Peoples United, as this underdog club wins the season in Meridell. It was a spectacular season for this ragtag team as they defeated their more famous rivals in epic contests that showed their determination and passion for the game. With 17 points and a game to play next week, I think more people around Neopia will be taking notice of this small club. Team of Illusen has had a disappointing season, with only 6 points so far. Normally one of the "powerhouse" clubs, they've taken quite a big fall and have come under fire from both fans and critics alike.

And that's how the leagues are standing so far! Be sure to check in next week to see the conclusion to this epic season! Also, be on the lookout for a special letter from the editor that will be posted on the splash page sometime this week.

Yooyuball's Finest is a series where we take an in-depth look at Neopia's greatest athletes and teams. Just what does it take to become a star yooyuballer? What goes on behind-the-scenes at a club? Here's your chance to find out!

Trapper" Remis is perhaps one of the most famous Altadorian yooyuballer of his generation. Leading the AL team in the Altador Cup, he takes the captainship and his duties very seriously. "When I put on the captain's armband, I feel different. I have added responsibility and it's up to me to lead the team forward." Though Altador's latest campaign in the AC ended in despair when they finished in a dismal 17th spot, Remis says that he looks forward to the challenges that face him. "It's about how you approach the situation," he explains, "you can either give up and say 'yeah, we're beat' or you can trek on and try harder."

Player Stats:
Position: Center Defender
Gender: Male
Species: Poogle
Place of Origin: Altador
Paint Color: Green
Strengths: Toughness, stealing the ball, speed
Weaknesses: Passing

Nicknamed "Trapper" because of his ability to trap forwards into difficult spots and corners, Remis gains the respect of many people for his skills as a defender. His speed is something that is unrivalled in terms of defenders in the Altador league, making him a valuable member of his club, Alabriss All-Stars. Also renowned for his toughness, Remis strikes fear into many opponents and makes them think twice before launching an attack. Though he has troubles with his inaccurate passing, his ability to steal the yooyu back quickly changes any situation.

After graduating from Altador School for Yooyuball, he was offered a contract with Kreludor Meteorites, but chose to turn it down. "I think I would have been too homesick," Remis says thoughtfully, "Altador is the only place for me and I knew even at the beginning of my career that I'd only play for an AL club." His decision led him to sign with Siyana's Elite, though his stay at the club would be short-lived. Remis says that the decision to leave was relatively easy. "They use an all-out attacking formation, with three forwards and only one center defender. Back then, I wasn't confident in my skills, and being the only defender was hard, especially in my younger days. I only stayed with SE for about two seasons, but my manager could tell I wasn't happy. Afterwards, he told me that Alabriss All-Stars were interested in me, so I decided to make the switch."

The Poogle has been with the All-Stars ever since, and has been an integral part of the team. He says he feels more at home in a defensive (1 + 3) formation and doesn't plan to make any club moves any time soon. His passion for the defensive game and his loyalty to his land are some of the things that make "Trapper" Remis one of yooyuball's finest.

With today being the last day of the September matches, we're taking the opportunity to review the first half of the season. Which teams look poised to add to their silverware collection? What teams are out of the competition? Let's take a look! (For the complete roster, click here!)

Current standings in Altador

1. Altadorian Heroics (10 points)
2. Minitheus Gladiators (5 points)
3. Siyana's Elite (5 points)
4. Alabriss All-stars (4 points)
5. Torakor Yooyu Team (3 points)
As expected, the Heroics are in the lead by a large margin. Though they did tie against Siyana's Elite today, it's only a minor setback. Their lead is so great that they only need a few wins and draws to cement their title win. What's interesting to note is that the other 4 teams are neck-in-neck with each other, something that's usually not seen in the Altadorian league. I would have expected the Gladiators to be a bit closer to the lead instead of battling it out at the bottom. They've got great forwards with the likes of Gregorio Maille and Flavius Cinoi so that's a bit of a surprise. There was another upset today as the All-Stars managed to take down the Gladiators in an unexpected result. Does this mean that the "top two" no longer exist and that we should be looking out for all five teams?

Current standings in Brightvale

1. Brightvalers (7 points)
2. Hagan Supreme (7 points)
3. Knowledge United (7 points)
4. The Scholars (5 points)
5. Motes of Brightvale (1 point)
A three-way tie for first place gives Brightvale the edge in terms of dramatic finishes. With Hagan Supreme and Knowledge United joining last year's champs at the top of the table, there's no telling who's going to win this year! It's truly up in the air. Thanks to Shaw Shoyi's last minute goal for Knowledge United, the team was able to gain 3 full points and rise to the top of the table with the others. The Scholars aren't out of it yet. With 5 points, they're within striking distance and now they just need to keep their focus and play the game. Their Shenkuu goalkeeper, Yuto Joro, has come under a lot of criticism lately for allowing too many shots on goal and showing a lack of confidence on the field. Most of their wins have been heavily influenced by their defenders, Gregorian and Leroy. To wrap things up in BV, keep your eye out for Brightvalers. If they slip, then I believe Hagan Supreme has what it takes to win over Knowledge United.

Current standings in Haunted Woods

1. Southeast Vampires (10 points)
2. Northwood Were-Pets (5 points)
3. The Candy Corn Crew (5 points)
4. The Phantom Nightmares (4 points)
5. Haunted Wood Spectres (3 points)
Already becoming a cult hero within the nation of Haunted Woods, "Brains" Mortigan has been a breath of fresh air in a club that was becoming a bit stale. The standings here are exactly the same as they are in Altador (what a coincidence!). Southeast Vampires are leading the way. At the beginning of the season, many critics wrote off the Vampires because of their 1 + 3 formation. "It's just a bit unlikely that they'll have what it takes in the attacking department," one reporter said, "they rely too much on defensive plays and lack the high scoring game that other teams have." Well, looks like they were wrong! Mortigan has been a solid defender, so much so that it allows his fellow defenders to assist the lone forward in attacking plays. The Vampires' chief rivals, Northwood Were-Pets, are more determined than ever. The fierce rivalry is heating up, after the Were-Pets' right defender, Serot Van Ripmeer, was quoted as saying, "this makes me sick to my stomach – seeing Southeast in the lead. Bah! Don't worry though because they're going down in the second half of the season!"

Current standings in Meridell

1. Peasant Peoples United (10 points)
2. Symol United (8 points)
3. Noble Yooyu (5 points)
4. Team of Illusen (3 points)
5. The Farmers Fraternity (1 point)
It seems like everyone's rooting for the underdogs in Meridell and around Neopia as Peasant Peoples United finishes the first half of the season sitting at the top of the table, one of the rare times in their long history. We've seen them grow from a ragtag bunch to a skilled group of professional players. They've started to focus more on attacking plays and their average goals per game have increased dramatically. On the other hand, Symol United hopes that the ending will be a happy one – for them of course. Just 2 points off of the lead means they're still strong contenders for the cup. With three Altador Cup veterans on their team, they are described as one of the strongest teams in Neopia. It's interesting to note that the top two teams have a lot in common. Both of them have "United" in their club name, and they both use a 1 + 3 formation.

And that's it! Hopefully our September wrap-up article has given you a lot to think about. Who will win? Who still has a shot at national glory? The first match of October will take place this Saturday on the 2nd, so be sure to book your tickets and tune in.

Last night during a press conference, Qasala City's goalkeeper, Olly "The Wall" Oppolee, announced that he would be retiring from professional yooyuball after next season. This revelation was somewhat shocking to fans, but it was news that many expected for some time. If there is one name synonymous with Qasala City yooyuball, it's Oppolee. Always the imposing figure on the field, the goalkeeper has led his team to countless victories and championship titles. Known for his amazing skill, sheer size, and incredible temper, Oppolee said,

Today, I would like to announce that after next season, I will be retiring. I have the privilege of looking back on a career that spans over two decades and in my heart, I know it's time for me to move on and let the new generation take over. Qasala City will always be my team and they have my support – always.

Some supporters of the club are taking it particularly hard. One Skeith said, "I c-can't believe... *sniff* he's retiring! I just...oh..." The fan broke down in tears and I did my best to console him. One fan (stating that she "inherited his temper" from watching the goalkeeper play) said, or rather, shouted, "UGH! I KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME! NOW WE HAVE TO GET STUCK WITH A LESSER GOALKEEPER! NOBODY CAN REPLACE THE 'WALL'! ARRRG!"

Oppolee's career has had its ups and downs. He's known around Neopia as being a fearsome goalkeeper but has had many problems keeping his anger in check. During a match against Kass Division, he became infamous when he charged down the entire length of the field and shoved the other team's goalkeeper (neither side were hurt though rumours circulated that he challenged the other keeper to a battledome match afterwards). Olly claimed that he saw her cheating but in the follow-up investigations, the authorities did not find any signs of foul play. Oppolee is currently the only goalkeeper in the standings for the top 30 players that have committed the most fouls during all yooyuball competitions (he comes in at #26). However, when we look back on his career, it is evident that he has accomplished a lot.

Many have argued that Oppolee singlehandedly brought Qasala City back into the spotlight and saved the club when there were rumours that the team would disband. He is one of the few goalkeepers around Neopia that have come close to matching Marshton Fellows' record of eight clean sheets for the entire season. During his long time at the club, Oppolee had become a father-figure to many of the players, providing advice and helping younger athletes adjust to playing in the big leagues. Whatever his future holds, I'm sure this is one giant that will always be remembered around Neopia for his accomplishments in the game of yooyuball.

Altador

Siyana's Elite (H) 7 – 8 Torakor Yooyu Team (A)
Oh boy, not a good start to the new season as last years' champs lost their opener again Torakor. It was a close battle even though many thought it should have been one-sided with Elite dominating the game. However, Torakor picked themselves up after losing last week and is on course to turning their season around. The Elite team members were obviously distraught as they never expected this to happen. Reports have emerged that there is a growing rift between goalkeeper Nirest The Brave and the lone defender, Demi Searlin. Hopefully they can regroup and play better next time.

Altadorian Heroics (H) 12 – 1 Alabriss All-stars (A)
Though they faced each other just last week, Alabriss All-Stars didn't seem to learn how to defeat their opponents as Heroics demolished them yet again. It's unlucky to have to face the best AL team twice in a row, but the fact of the matter is that the All-Stars weren't playing like stars at all. A lack of communication and horrible defending means another loss on their record. The good news is that they won't have to face Heroics again until next year.

Brightvale

Hagan Supreme (H) 6 – 6 Brightvalers (A)
Over in Brightvale, it was another case of previous champions going under. This match ended in a draw, but while Hagan Supreme may be content with that, the players of Brightvalers are fuming. Again, it was AC-veteran and goalkeeper Orie Dinelle pointing the finger at brothers Jukes V and Jukes C, blaming the two forwards for their lack of defending. The brothers have hit back at her comment in the post-match interview, stating, "we're disappointed with the manner in which our fellow player is conducting herself. Our focus has always been on being a solid team and though we are playing in a forward position, we do give every effort to go back and help her with defending."

The Scholars (H) 8 – 4 Knowledge United (A)
An easy home win for The Scholars means they register 3 valuable points. Right forward, Reb Weemelott, was a central figure in his team as he scored three times, and had two assists. The Scholars' goalkeeper, Yuto Joro, has been under fire after letting in two "soft" goals. The Shenkuu Ruki is the youngest on her team so it's safe to say she doesn't have the experience of her older teammates. However, the manager has stood by her, saying "she's a tough girl and she knows her job. Give her a few seasons and she'll be the best keeper in Brightvale."

Haunted Woods

Northwood Were-Pets (H) 9 – 9 The Phantom Nightmares (A)
Does the cup curse truly exist? The Were-Pets claimed the trophy last season but could only manage a draw against an underpowered Phantom team. What's up with all of these champion teams failing to hit the mark? Truth be told, The Were-Pets would be nothing without left defender, Krell Vitor, who not only scored five of their goals but also made a spectacular play to stop The Phantom Nightmares from scoring in the last second. The rest of the players need to stop relying so heavily on Vitor – he can't do everything, you know!

Southeast Vampires (H) 10 – 7 Haunted Woods Spectres (A)
Finally winning over his fans, "Brains" Mortigan looked right at home as his team took the win. At the end of the game, the home crowd were chanting his name like zombies, "Braaaiiinnnss....Brraaaiiinnnss!" It definitely made the visiting spectators a little nervous! *laughs* As a center defender, Mortigan has the obligation to form the defensive line and direct the left and right defender to their positions. Being so young, he made it look easy and displayed leadership far beyond his age. Though he still has a hard time communicating, he just points to where he wants them to go. However, the gossip coming out of the locker room is that he still drools a lot.

Meridell

The Farmers Fraternity (H) 3 – 7 Peasant Peoples United (A)
Oh, United! You never cease to amaze me! Whenever there's a match featuring this team, critics always expect their opponents to win. Not this time, folks. They're an amazing team to watch and already they're winning Meridell hearts all over the nation. Multiple fan clubs have sprouted up all over Neopia and their fame is on the rise. Scoring more than they usually do, United seems to be taking peoples' criticisms to heart and focussed more on creating scoring chances.

Noble Yooyu (H) 2 – 5 Team of Illusen (A)
It was a win for Team of Illusen, but it wasn't that convincing to me. They walked away with three points but their game was just too sloppy and they missed a lot of great chances. However, a big shout out to Luna and Sonny Hart, the brother-sister defending duo in the back. They made sure to clean up whenever one of the forwards messed up and save their side on many occasions. Fans of Noble Yooyu aren't too pleased with their forwards, Sir Denirak Of The East and Sir Aine Of The North. These two were quiet throughout the match and never displayed their usual spectacular style of play.

*sings* It's the most wonderful time of the year! That's right folks! It's the new yooyuball season and I've got the summaries for all of the matches that took place on day 1.

Altador
Alabriss All-stars (H) 0 – 9 Altadorian Heroics (A)
As expected, the Heroics took an easy win, destroying their opponents in a 9 – 0 rout. Salayne Ritad (GK for Heroics) was at the top of his game. Though many wondered if the veteran player would be tired from all of his matches over the summer, he looked fit and relaxed. Scoring five of their goals was Kayn Hireck. This Brightvale giant tore the All-Stars' defence into shreds and made it look easy. The All-Stars just couldn't catch a break and this was definitely not how they wanted their opening match to go.

Minitheus Gladiators (H) 8 – 3 Torakor Yooyu Team (A)
It was another case of a powerhouse team taking down the small guys as the Gladiators took the full 3 points. Their performance was shaky at times, but the home team was just too strong. However, the Gladiators were hit with bad news as their top scorer, Gregorio Maille, picked up a late injury. We're not sure how extensive it is, but we'll keep our eye and ears open for any news. Torakor Yooyu Team will need to step up their defensive strategies for future matches.

Brightvale
Knowledge United (H) 5 – 3 Motes of Brightvale (A)
It was a close one but in the end, the home team took the win, robbing Motes of three points. The visiting team had a dominant first half as they took an early 2 – 0 lead, but the second half belonged to Knowledge United. In my opinion, their most important player was right defender, Ciona Broan. This Faerielander was too fast for the opponents and was a crucial part of the defensive line.

The Scholars (H) 0 – 3 Hagan Supreme (A)
The fans weren't too pleased with the performance given by their home side as The Scholars lost their opening face-up. They focussed too much on defending and didn't seem to be playing as a unit. Needless to say, Hagan Supreme dominated the match but again, their game lacked flair. Judging by the score line, they also lack any skilful forwards. If you take control of a match, a 3 – 0 score line isn't something to brag about.

Haunted Woods
Haunted Woods Spectres (H) 8 – 10 Northwood Were-Pets (A)
Last years' champs had a battle on their hands but managed to come away with a win in their first game of the season. It was a meeting between two good friends, the Spectres Wan Dirx and the Were-Pets' Krell Vitor. There were no hard feelings and the two teams played an exciting match. The visitors were leading at half-time, but the home team rallied back. It was only in the dying minutes that Salinore "Sprinter" Sook scored twice to give his team the edge.

The Candy Corn Crew (H) 7 – 7 Southeast Vampires (A)
All eyes were on newcomer "Brains" Mortigan as he makes his national league debut. Plucked from obscurity, many criticized HW's national team coach for including this youngster in the AC line-up. So, how did he play on his first day? Absolutely brilliant. Mortigan's not known for his speed, but his defensive techniques ensured that his side held on to a draw instead of an outright loss. Sure, they'll be disappointed with the results, but they still have a long road ahead of them. On the other side of things, The Crew looked like an entirely new team. Known for having very young and inexperienced players, they showed technique and skill beyond their age. Looks like they spent the entire summer training!

Meridell
Noble Yooyu (H) 10 – 10 Symol United (A)
Not as good as a win, but definitely better than a loss. Symol United were the victors last season but today, their game lacked the determination we usually see. United's center forward, "Wizard" Windelle, was playing on an injury which could explain a lot, but you can't have one player do all of the work. If one person is injured, another must take up the reins. Tiny goalkeeper, Yoris Obbles, looked exhausted after playing the Altador Cup and The A.N.C back-to-back. Meanwhile, Noble Yooyu will be pleased with this result as many predictions had them losing the match. Their game was solid, with emphasis on defending and stealing the yooyu from their opponents' possession.

Team of Illusen (H) 0 – 2 Peasant Peoples United (A)
Underdogs no longer? Peasant Peoples United is truly a sight for sore eyes as they played amazing yooyuball for the full 60 minutes. Taking down a team that features the likes of Fiorina and Vitri Sitol, United could very well be the next big powerhouse. Their only problem is that they lack the scoring capabilities that other big-name teams have. Whenever they win, it's usually not by much and in a sport where goal differences can decide who takes the trophy, they'll need to boost their attack power.

With the new yooyuball season starting on Saturday, September 4th, the reporters at Yooyuball Planet are scrambling to get all of the latest gossip and news coming out from the leagues. During the months of September and October, there will be four leagues taking place: Altador, Brightvale, Haunted Woods, and Meridell. As always, let's set-up the new season with our favourite guest, Techo Super Fan.

Yooyuball Planet: Thanks for joining us on such short notice. I know you're quite the busy Techo these days.
Techo Super Fan: I sure am but I always have time for you guys over here. I can't believe it's been an entire year already. I remember sitting here talking about the 2009-2010 season. Isn't it crazy how fast time flies by?
YP: Indeed it is, my friend. Yooyuball Planet also had its 1-year anniversary as well, and we covered everything from the national leagues and the Altador Cup, to the WAM Celebration Cup and The All-Neopia Championships. It's been an extremely busy year but we're still passionate about our work. Now, before we talk about the new season, do you have any words about the transfer season that just wrapped up?
TSF: Well, it was a quiet transfer market, but that's to be expected. Even with Moltara as a new league, there weren't a lot of contracts being signed and managers were holding on to their players. For the most part, fans of the AL, BV, HW, and MD leagues will be seeing many familiar faces.
YP: There is one new face in the Haunted Woods league, and that's Altador Cup-newcomer "Brains" Mortigan, who joins Southeast Vampires on a 20 million Neopoint contract. Will he make any difference to their team?
TSF: Hmm, it's too early to tell. He's a very young player and many people see a lot of potential but I'm not sold yet. His performance in the Altador Cup was shaky. Either he was brilliant or he fumbled the yooyu too often. Time will tell, I suppose.
YP: Any HW clubs that look poised to dominate the season?
TSF: Last season, Northwood Were-Pets put in an amazing effort to lift the trophy at the end. Some say Krell Vitor is past his prime, but he's still an effective leader for his side. I'd say some underdogs have a shot, like The Candy Corn Crew. The players have been with the team for a while now, so even though they're young, they know each others' plays and style.
YP: Last year in Altador, Siyana's Elite were somewhat of a surprise winner. However, Altadorian Heroics won the latest All-Neopia Championships, and also the unofficial title of "best club in the world". What can we expect to see this time around?
TSF: Altador may not be major contenders in their own AC, but believe me when I say there's not a single league that's more exciting than this. All of these teams are steeped in tradition and it's amazing to watch. I'm going to go ahead and predict another trophy for Altadorian Heroics. They've got great defenders and talented forwards.
YP: Moving on to the Brightvale league, it was the Brightvalers club that took the title home in the end. They haven't made any roster changes, and many critics think they'll be repeat champions. However, you say differently.
TSF: I do. The club's talented, there's no doubt about that. I'm not saying that they're going to lose based on that, but there's too much in-fighting between members and the managerial staff that it negatively affects their play. Right now, there are two camps. One is backing the Jukes brothers and the other is behind Orie Dinelle. In order to win, they'll need to put aside their differences and play as a team. This season, I'd keep an eye out for Knowledge United.
YP: Last but not least, Meridell. Just a few days ago, Meridell was the host nation of The All-Neopia Champions where a little bit of history was made.
TSF: I thoroughly enjoyed watching the A.N.C. coverage because it just goes to show you that there's so much drama and even though predictions are made, there's still a lot of surprise. One of MD's new "powerhouse" team is Peasant Peoples United who made it all the way to the finals. It's a team that doesn't have the big names or yooyuball stars that other clubs have, but they're disciplined, passionate, and determined.
YP: Last year, the United team placed second at the end of the season, just a fraction off of first place. For all of their accomplishments, many people still label them as underdogs.
TSF: I truly believe that this year will be different. If they finish in the top three, then perhaps that'll change what people think of them. All of the members are playing some of the best yooyuball in their lives and it's a joy to watch.
YP: Well, thank you sir for stopping by! I appreciate it and I know our readers do to.
TSF: No problem at all, Roque. I'll be sure to visit more often.

Always the outspoken one, "Dasher" Soley has stirred up some controversy with his latest comments to the press. The topic? Club loyalty. Counted among the few "one-club" players in Neopia, Soley has always made his opinions clear: he will never leave his club, Golden Pharaohs. Whether you offer him a billion Neopoints to just sit on the bench or every single item available in Neopia, he'll turn it down. Here's what he said during the club's press conference last night:

Arr, it burns a gap through me heart to be seein' today's young players lookin' fer money instead o' valuing the true beauty o' the game – loyalty! Allegiance! They'll choose to play fer clubs that offer them the most Neopoints an' fer what? Neopoints can't buy ye happiness. I say, choose one club an' stick with it! Don't be fickle an' greedy like a captain that's lost his prized pirate ship an' is lookin' fer a back-up one.

His extreme devotion to his club and to the game has earned him many fans around Neopia. Throughout his time at Golden Pharaohs, he has maintained a positive relationship with the clubs supporters who have come to treat him as a modern-day king, shouting "The Pharaoh enters!" whenever he makes his way onto the field.

Here are some comments from fans and players around Neopia:

It's so amazing the amount of loyalty that Krawk has in him. Whenever fans think about all he's done at the club, we all get teary and we're so proud of him - Lisah Fonswicky, Golden Pharaohs fan

Psshh, come on! Loyalty doesn't exist in today's modern yooyuball game! Besides, part of the fun of being an athlete is getting to play for different teams. His views are so old *cough* almost as old as he is *cough* - Crispy Roonaldo, right forward of King Roo Company

Yeah, man. I mean, I've got lots of respect for him. Like, dude, he's a legend! Yeah, he's definitely, like, amazing in that he's only played for one club, man. Dude.

- Marjikr, Polarchuck Club fan

I agree there are some players out there who only play for the financial aspect of yooyuball. It's disheartening, really. However, just because I've played for another team before Kreludan Adventurers doesn't mean I'm any less loyal to my club! I mean, like, seriously! - Derlyn Fonnet, left defender of Kreludan Adventurers

So do any of you yooyuball fans out there have any thoughts on this topic? Is there less loyalty these days? Is there too much emphasis on Neopoints and trade agreements? For one thing, this is one debate that I don't see an end to.