Thank you @
fz29888 for the updates and follow up. I was out of the town for the last couple of days to a place where I did not have access to the internet, and missed the last two days of the trial.
Regarding the rule change, I think it's more likely than not that CNT changed the rule than the rule was misread by the media because if it's misread why CNT did not ask the media to make a correction before the results came out?
Also, every piece in the previously announced rules fits perfectly the way it was.
1. The top three ranked players, i.e. ML, FZD, ZJK, from CNT Internal Ranking based on domestics results are exempted from the second trial and would automatically qualify for the third trial
2. FZD, who already qualified through internal ranking, was asked by the coaching staff to participate in the second trial in order to gain more experience, not to compete for a spot in the third trial. Therefore, no matter what position he finishes, he will still go to the third trial. Consequently, the top four finishers from the second trial, excluding Fan Zhendong, will qualify for the third trial, which means A) if FZD finishes at the top four, the fifth ranked player will qualify for the third trial, or; B) if FZD failed to make to the top four, the top four players will go to the third trial
3. There will be eight players in the third trial, incluidng A) the top three players from internal ranking - ML, FZD, ZJK;B) the top four players from the second trial, excluding FZD, and C) a wild card play selected by the coaching staff.
If the previously announced rule stands, Hao Shuai, who finished 5th in the second trial, should qualify to play in the third trial.
I don't buy the story of media "misreading" the rule before the trial started because the old rule makes perfect sense. The "one wild card" provision only works if Fan Zhendong does not take up a spot from the second trial. Now, the coaching staff said they will choose "two wild card" of their discretion. As far as I know, at least from "one wild card" to "two wild card" is a policy change after the fact.
I don't want to speculate the reason behind the rule change, but there's no denying that the rule did change before and after the 2nd trial concluded.
