The number of participants had dropped to a single digit (almost), highlighting the urgent need for participant engagement. There was a lot of room to upgrade all the participants, and this issue cannot be overlooked.
Regrettably, the competition committee seemed to have overlooked this crucial aspect. It appeared that they had never considered the possibility of commoners reaching the finals, a stark indication of the competition's lack of inclusivity.
As per tradition, a banquet was to be held a day before the final round so that all the participants could get to know each other and all the important people who monitored this competition.
Some prominent kids who did well were also selected to participate.
This was the perfect time for these kids to attract attention and get sponsored by these wealthy families (more like targeted to be slaves).