Around Yonge-Dundas Square alone, four retailers were holding midnight launches Thursday for the Playstation 4. All but the EB Games inside the Eaton Centre had lines that stretched far onto the streets. Many of the fans had been waiting out in the cold for hours on end.

Lee ‘Jaedong’ Jae Dong found himself only a step away from the first place prize. Again, he was given the opportunity to end his legacy as a “silver mine,” or to continue to achieve second place. Jaedong was confident. He had already defeated two champions of previous finals.

Andrew McAnsh woke up at 8 am on Remembrance Day to rehearse The Last Post, reading over the notes again and again, going over the finger positions on his trumpet without making a sound. He did not want to wake his roommate.