Hi and hello, sports fansWelcome to the Omega Speedmaster World CupWith all eight groups published and the voting in full swing, it's time for a quick round-up of how your favorite Speedies are progressing (or not) so far Over the past four weeks, we've launched two four-watch groups every weekend. Our selected limited edition Omega Speedmasters have been duking it out, tooth and nail. With the next pair of quarter-finals due to come this weekend, I thought I'd give you a quick round-up of what's been happening (check out QF1 and QF2 here). If you don't like the way the vote is going, you still have time to change itVote yourselfShare these posts with your friends and familyWave your Speedy flag from the window, yelling at passers-by to get involved. I really would appreciate it, whichever route you choose Group E A horological howitzer for the Hungarian HorntailI probably should have given him Group H with all this unnecessary alliteration flying around Balazs rolled out an interesting selection for your consideration, but was the result of this one ever in doubt? The new Ed White 321 has everything going for it. It has a story. It has flashy looks. Beating away within its (blessedly) steel case is the reborn 321 movement (with beautiful Sedna gold plating on the bridges and mainplate as opposed to the copper it replaced).mobilize downtown TokyoWere there contenders in this group? Sure. But beyond the Italy-only Albino, no other watch had a real shot of going deep into the comp. Of course, if you disagree with that assessment and feel like you have the influence to mobilize downtown Tokyo to turn out in force for the Japan Racing Edition, go ahead and prove me wrong. Youve got a mountain to climb but theres still timeGroup F Old Father Time steps into the futureThis is a weird old group. Honestly, we assembled these groups by committee, in a kind of draft process. How G2 ended up with such a series of oddballs is kind of beyond me, but here we are. I had a sneaking suspicion the Moon to Mars would take this one, but it is currently languishing in third place, nestled just 10 votes behind the Gene CernanIt could cause a match-up nightmare for some pieces.Way out in front, with 40% of the vote as it stands, is the Apollo XI 45th anniversary model. An unusual Speedmaster in many ways, its expected presence in the last eight is a boon for diversity. I dont think anyone really rates this ones chances of going the distance in the Speedmaster World Cup, but it is just so different you can never tell. It could cause a match-up nightmare for some pieces. The question is, is its likely opponent the powerful Ed White 321 one of them?Group G Bertis beautiesGroup G is a fine-looking group with potential winners all over the park. An all gold Speedy? Check. An Apollo XIII limited? check. One of the coolest Speedmaster dial layouts in history? Weve got you covered (thanks, Soyuz). But the Fratello-designed Speedy Tuesday 1 (a tribute to the Alaska project) was in imperious form. It snaked its way through the competition like a well-greased Lionel Messi. There was no stopping it. The real concern for the rest of is, can it be stopped?trying to out-gun Berti is never a good idea.Ive been waking up in fits every night this week. I cant shake the image of the ST1 looming over me. With its big, white, eyes glowing fiercely in the dark, its exquisitely brushed case hugging the darkness, it is the very picture of menace. Im bringing the big guns to this fight, but trying to out-gun Berti is never a good idea. The ST1 looks likely to make it all the way to the final in my opinion, unlessGroup H Bobsled Bobby, drunk on recency biasSo Im drunk. Nothing new there. Its so much a part of my character, I put it on LinkedIn. For once, however, Im drunk on a heady cocktail of circumstance. Somehow and Im really not sure how the latest Omega Snoopy edition landed in my group. Its a sexy watch. In fact, it is the only one of the watches featured in the entire Speedmaster World Cup that is destined for my collection (my order is in and its on the way At some point).any given TuesdayDid I beg for my newest acquisition? No, sir. I felt kind of guilty about taking it. But have I grown to be glad of its presence in my group? More than, that, I now believe it to be a necessity. I believe there are very few watches that can take-on the ST1 with the chance of winning. On any given Tuesday, the Speedmaster Snoopy 50th Anniversary Edition stands a chance. Im glad hes likely to be my champion, but I must bid a fond farewell to the sexiest Gemini I ever met the Gemini IV. Ah well, at least well always have ParisTake part in the Group stages by voting here. And if you want to add the Gemini IV that broke my heart to YOUR collection, you can find one and one alone in our shop here.