The second marble sand rally race took place on Feb. 10, 2023. Sand and weather conditions were rated at 4/5 and 5/5, respectively, consistent with the Race 1 conditions. (Contains spoilers for the results of Race 2.)
The line-up, from 1-16, consisted of Silver Bolt (SBO), Cool Moody (CMO), Red Number 3 (RN3), Lollipop (LOP), Grasshopper (GRA), Slimer (SLI), Pollo Loco (POL), Cobra (COB), Amethyst (AME), Blizzard Blaster (BBL), Crazy Cat’s Eye (CCE), Ducktape (DUC), Ghost Plasma (GHO), Superball (SUP), Reflektor (REF) and Wisp of Darkness (WOD). Eagle-eyed watchers will note that the starting line-up alternates which marbles start in the first row and in the second row for each race. The intent of this is to diminish the potential unfair advantage front row marbles may receive from that row.
With newcomer Amethyst winning the first race of the season, the stakes could not be higher. The more experienced marbles must be sweating for sure. With one DNF (did not finish) last race, the marbles should have carefully analyzed their plans of action, preparing to interact with any number of course obstacles.
SLI started with a strong push forward at the start of the race, speeding ahead, followed behind by SBO and RN3. All of the marbles easily navigated the first obstacle, a spinning turnstile with wooden poles. At 9.88 seconds, RN3 pushed forward to claim the first place in the race. Perhaps a risky move, given how much course was left for RN3 to cover. Interestingly enough, there was no sign of newbie AME at this part in the race. Did AME grow too self-confident from the Race 1 performance? Perhaps. It is clear that AME did not press for a higher spot on the podium as the marble did in Race 1. Already having a first-place medal, the marble seems comfortable in taking the backseat for this race. And evidently, this over-confidence manifested itself, as AME (and GHO) were caught by the second obstacle and were out of the second race, resulting in a DNF for each of them. For AME to go from first in Race 1 to DNF in Race 2 is appalling.
By 20.52, it appeared clear that the race would be a battle between RN3, GRA and SLI. (As an adamant SLI fan, I was ecstatic. For any marble rally fans out there, I would love to hear from you about who you are rooting for!) SLI snagged the first-place spot by 36.96 seconds, narrowly passing RN3.
This course proved difficult for the marble competitors, with WOD and COB falling out of the course during the twisty part of the course, though WOD was successfully able to regain traction and reenter the course. SLI continued to gain a substantial lead over the other marbles as the race continued. Marble Rally is a brutal race, impacting each marble differently. This was evidently clear as SBO slipped past SLI in the final moment to snag the first-place prize—a historically significant lead change just as the race was about to end. SBO strategically took advantage of the speed boost platform before the finished line, and the gambit paid off.
After the race ended, SBO placed first, SLI second and POL third. RN3 dropped down to the ninth spot by the end of the race. Notably, DUC started in last place, and the marble worked its way all the way up to sitxth place by the end of the race. Admirable work, Ducktape, keep it up. You can watch the second race here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0MhgNtSiH8).
