None of the other teams could do it this tournament, but the Chinese soccer robots do it in the first minute of the game: score against the TURTLES, the Tech United robot soccer team. They’re behind! The bleachers are packed with people, and the TURTLES try to give the audience a good game, which turns out to be quite challenging because the Chinese team has an extremely strong defense.
The audience goes crazy when Tech United scores 1-1 just before halftime. Their mascot skips through the hall, and everyone feels the tension build.

After two brilliant saves by the TURTLES goalie, the ref wants him off the field. His ‘neck’ doesn’t go down automatically and that issue needs to be fixed. The Water robots seem hyperactive. They dribble around impatiently and go for the opponent that’s on the ball aggressively. Again, they see an opportunity, and score. 2-1.

In the last minute of the game the TURTLES lob the ball into the goal. The frenzied crowd can be heard miles around the Indoor Sports Center. Extra time. Both teams quickly change batteries.
Things get even more exciting during extra time. There are a few curses from the audience when a robot of the Water team crashes into a TURTLE. But the third goal by the Chinese team settles it. China is the new world champion, and Eindhoven is only second best.

Robin Soetens speaks of “a beautiful game” after the match, addressing the press. “We had too many turnovers, but the excitement made for a good game nevertheless.”Maarten Steinbuch adds: “it’s fantastic to witness four to five thousand people watch robots.”

Team member Koen Meessen can’t hide his disappointment as well. “It would have been awesome to have won in front of this audience.” He was in charge of the positions of the robots and could only sit by and watch after that. “When we won the title in Mexico, I was there, but there were only fifty people in the audience back then. I was there when we lost to Water in Singapore (2010, ed) and Istanbul (2011, ed) as well. I guess you could say I have a fear of water for a reason.”

Organizer René van de Molengraft stresses the steady quality of ‘his’ team. “We’ve been performing very well ever since 2008.”He was nervous about team Water as well. “We know they’re strong, and we know they push the rules by shortening the required two-meter distance to 1.90 meter at a re-start. And oh, how they push! If your robots can’t take that, you end up in second place.”But he’s satisfied nonetheless. “We made the RoboCup into a public event.”