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Hermione: "They only like him because he's famous! They wouldn't look twice at him if he couldn't do that Wonky-Faint thing - "
Harry: "Wronski Feint."
Hermione Granger and Harry Potter discussing Viktor Krum[src]

The Wronski Feint (also known as the Wronski Defensive Feint) is a tactic in Quidditch where a Seeker pretends to spot the Golden Snitch far below and races to catch it, hoping the opposing seeker will copy. At the last second before reaching the ground, the feinting seeker pulls out of a dive, usually causing the opposing seeker to crash. Classified as a Dangerous Seeker Diversion when viewed through Omnioculars, the Wronski Feint was invented by Polish Seeker Josef Wronski[1] and frequently used by famed Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum.

Hermione Granger once mistakenly referred to this tactic as the 'Wonky Faint'.

History

1994 Quidditch World Cup

On 22 August, 1994, Viktor Krum used the Wronski Feint in the final of the Quidditch World Cup against Ireland. Krum successfully used the tactic to trick Ireland's Seeker, Aidan Lynch, into diving into the ground, allowing Krum a few moments to look for the Snitch without interference.[2]

2014 Quidditch World Cup

On 22 May, 2014, German Seeker Thorsten Pfeffer attempted the Wronski Feint in his team's match against Wales. However, he failed to pull up out of the manoeuver in time and collided with the ground at an estimated sixty miles per hour. Pfeffer managed to survive the collision due to the rapid administration of Skele-Gro, though he had broken most of the bones in his body and at least temporarily believed himself to be a budgerigar named Klaus.[3]

Behind the scenes

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. Quidditch Through the Ages, Chapter 10 (Quidditch Today)
  2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 10 (Mayhem at the Ministry)
  3. Pottermore - WALES VERSUS GERMANY (Archived)
  4. The card "Pulling Up" depicts Harry pulling out of a sharp dive and Terence Higgs about to hit the ground.
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